​THE TRUTH OF IT ALL
By Jacqueline Valenzuela

​I want to walk away

I've tried it

​Why do you convince me
to lay and stay?

​You etched into me
this fear and doubt.

​I almost remember who I was
before you made me afraid.

I see it all: the lies, the brutal
harm, the cheating.

You etched into me
a fear I would never find
anyone else to love. 

​I see the truth.
I wasn't afraid.

​Jacqueline Valenzuela is a returning student at Pasadena
College. She has received a B.A in Urban Learning, she
was pursuing a career as a teacher and although
conflicted with all the pressures of expectations
from family and society decided to return to PCC
and take classes on the subjects that she always
had an interest in including writing.

---

Back to poetry table of contents