Once Upon A Time (Spoken Word)
A/N: I have yet to perform this piece, but I’m thinking about doing it in my poetry class at some point this semester. Let me know what y’all think. :)
-Megs <3
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Once upon a time… I was a naive little girl.
A fresh face, new to adulthood and new to the reality of this world.
I started with a passion that burned as bright as a fire and as consistent as the sun.
I was beyond excited for the adventure of college, ready to see what potential goodness I could find in my new home.
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And yet… fire can be extinguished by water, just as the sun can disappear as the day comes to a close.
And that is what happened when I met you.
The moment I saw you, I knew that my focus needed to be on you and you alone.
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Nothing else mattered.
--- You were the first interaction of the day as well as the last. Your value was regarded higher than anything else… even my own emotional health. So… that’s why I need to finally speak my mind, to speak my truth.
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Dating apps… who knew that I would fall into that spell?
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You pulled me in, with your impressive reviews and the assurance that matches would come flowing in with ease.
You assured me that I would find the man of my dreams, the man who checked off every box that I had and that truly cared of me and my own well being.
You convinced me that since you were so popular, that you were the only way that I could ever find the love I so desperately wanted and felt I needed.
You told me that I just needed to stay around longer, just another month, assuring me that not every man would leave me as broken as the last.
You persuaded me to ignore my brokenness, to ignore my sadness, and to give you more money in order to profit on the expense of shattered souls and hearts that are torn beyond repair.
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I trusted you without second thought, when you deserved none of it. I don’t blame you for everything, of course. I was the one who chose to engage first, to sign up and make the first step to match with people.
But the message is toxic. The environment surrounding you is toxic. The results…. are toxic.
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I cannot advocate for the message that you bring, yet I am still trapped in the promises that you made to me the moment that I signed up for the adventure of you.
I have nearly no more words left to say, except a simple warning for those who chose to invest their time into you.
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I beg of everyone listening… do not give your heart and soul to these apps. Do not assume that all of the people you interact with want what’s best for you, or care for how you feel in the end.
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Once upon a time… I was a naive little girl. Once upon a time… I found you Once upon a time… I fell into your trap.
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And now… as I pull away and leave you behind, all I can do is hope that no one else falls into the same lies that you told me.
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