I want You to Know
Author: Charlene Henry Kenon

I want you to know it gets cold out there
That it gets lonely and fearful and
I find it hard to stand and think sometimes
I want you to know that when all others
are in control and can do whatever they wish
I am struggling and trying to get up from the last
collapse I have encountered
I want you to know that when all else are singing and
partying, I am
running, dodging, and surviving at the
skin of my teeth,
and trying to find myself midst all the other
disguises I wear

I want you know that there are voices of women crying,
Who are hiding, praying to be heard, to be freed,
or protected against the rage or control of another
I want you to know that there are children who are being abused
and who are too small to fight back,
too young to run, or know that what is happening to them, is wrong.
I want you to know that there are people, mainly children,
who are dying within families
because the family is not really a haven of safety,
or security—but a framework of pretense.
I want you to know that there is this thing,
“as ugly as it can get,” called racism—
where we haven’t found a cure,
but for the ones of us who can’t shake it---are in prison
and those who can, are in bondage by those who are carriers of it.
I want you to know that there are those who always
have to carry the burdens of others,
That there are those who can’t take care of themselves
because their spirit has been sucked out of them—
through age, sickness, or the injustices of this world.

I want you to know that there is a beauty,
a sense of being,
a sense of knowing,
all will be better, and that you are loved,
that keeps us in check,
that keeps us on the road,

I want you to know that it gets hard sometimes,
sometimes so hard you can’t decipher
reality from the dreams,

I want you to know that no matter how hard you work
good you do, people you comfort,
wrongs you make right,
truths you tell,
pain you suffer,
you will never add immortality to this life.

I want you to know that friends are truly rare—
and being one to someone else,
is always in demand.

I want you to know that dreams aren’t as real
as we awaken from them
and leave them on our bed of rest

I want you to know that we all get tired sometimes-
but it is the will that drives us to continue

I want you to know it gets cold out here
That it gets lonely and fearful
and only a few of us
come to know these things.







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Charlene Henry Kenon born in Gadsden County, Quincy, Florida, and is one of five siblings. She is married with one child. She has worked with the state of Florida for the last 24 years. She enjoys writing and helping others. She believes writing is magical and is therapy for the broke-hearted.

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