TAT KULISCH
POETRY COLLECTIONS
As a young teen, I went through some traumatic experiences, which led to depression and developing an eating disorder. I felt alone and thought no one would understand how I was feeling. To cope with the hell in my life, I wrote poetry.
If you ever feel helpless and alone, let the power of words help you through the tough times.
HERE I AM
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When you’re feeling down and the tears don’t want to stop
When the world has crumbled just when you reached the top
When every agonizing step you take feels more like a mile
I’ll be there to lift you up and help make you smile
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When the nights are lonely and cold
When you’re feeling withered and old
When your soul feels threatened and torn
I’ll be there to keep you safe and warm
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When love has failed you, and you feel thrown out
When you’re tormented so that you scream and shout
When you fall into a pit of sinking sand
I’ll be there to grasp your hand
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The world is cruel, this I know, my Dear
Though it may be hard, lift your head and wipe that tear
If you feel it is more than you can stand
Listen to the wind and hear me whisper;
“Here I am.”
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******
What My Children Mean to Me
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He is my heart; she is my soul
They have saved me in more ways than one
They open my eyes and show me how to live
Their tiny hands not only wrap around my finger,
but around my heart as well
Their smiles light up my life
brighter than the sun ever could
Their love gives me reason to face a new day
They are my life
my world
my everything
They are my children
​
******
Raging Storm
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The wind howls cold, and lightning strikes,
lighting up the sky.
Thunder rumbles over haunted hills,
rolling through my mind.
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Rain drops stream down a window pane,
as do tears from my eyes.
Anguished words won’t keep me sane,
coming from desperate cries.
​
A raging storm rakes the land,
and I cower within my bed.
I’m drowning in sinking sand,
hiding from voices inside my head.
​
******
Who's To Blame?
He got angry.
Hurtful words were said,
a black eye was given.
The police were called,
she’s rushed to the hospital.
It’s not his fault;
she shouldn’t have spoken against his accusations.
​
A wife had an affair.
Started out sneaking around,
then became more openly.
The thrill was exciting,
the money was abundant.
It’s not her fault;
her husband worked too much and didn’t pay enough attention to her.
​
Some teens have been arrested.
They were just having fun,
and adults are just too uptight.
It was just booze, or weed, or some other substance.
It was a rich person’s car,
they can afford the insurance.
It’s not their fault;
their parents didn’t disciplined them properly.
​
Ain’t it funny?
It’s always someone else’s fault
for the things another does wrong.
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******
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Thank You, Mama
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Hello, Mama, there is something I need to say.
Something that should have been said, long ago.
Something that starts from when I was born and leads up to today.
Listen carefully, Mama, because it's something you really need to know.
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Thank you for keeping me safe while inside your womb,
and for bringing me into this crazy world.
Thank you for the diaper changes and tended wounds,
and for helping me speak my very first words.
​
Thank you for telling me stories and singing me songs,
and for encouraging my creative mind.
Thank you for teaching me right from wrong,
and for being patient when I dragged behind.
​
Thank you for being a shoulder to cry on when my heart got badly broken,
and for helping me see the brighter side.
Thank you for the loving words you have spoken,
and for peaceful Sunday rides.
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Thanks to you, I’m a better mother for my two.
You taught me all I needed to know.
I am who I am today because of the things I learned from you.
It’s how much I love and appreciate you, that I wanted you to know.
​
******
Fallen
Out in a meadow, atop a small hill;
a 21 gun salute makes the morning go still.
Mournful weeping, rustling leaves,
and the American flag flapping in the breeze
are the only sounds to be heard.
Left behind loved ones are greatly disturbed.
A veteran shows respect with the raise of his hand,
as one of the fallen returns to the land.
For a great young soldier was selfless and brave;
the freedom of his country, he died to save.
The ultimate price the young man did pay.
We remember the fallen each Memorial Day.
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******
Welcome Summer
School is out,
and the children scream.
Senior make their final march
while loved ones watch them transcend.
Laughter and cheers, and even, some tears
fill the warm June night
as graduates say so long
to friends they’ve know for life.
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Bright sunny days wait ahead,
and pools will soon be open.
With splashing and squeals
we find a way to stay cool.
For some of us, a tan in nice
so we bathe in the hot summer sun.
​
Across the country, or even abroad
vacationers seek an adventure.
Photos of sightseeing and load of souvenirs
their memories they’ll bring home.
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Tumbler
they share with their family and friends.
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But like all good things
summer will soon end.
The children will go back to school
and some may move away.
So cherish the time summer will bring;
don’t let it waste away.
​
******
The Void
Emptiness fills my soul.
A void deep in the core of me.
I stare into the horizon, but there’s nothing to see.
I listen to the wind, but there’s nothing to hear.
I wait for the ache of despair, but I feel...
Nothing!
I’m numb.
From my head to the soles of my feet.
No pain; no joy; not even a spark of anger.
Should I be grateful?
Has death taken my soul, and my body hasn’t realized it?
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The wind weaves through the trees,
and a voice rides upon its stream.
“Mom, are you coming?”
I look over, and my children’s smiling faces soak in the sun’s rays.
My heart flutters,
and a lump rises into my throat.
How could I have felt so empty,
when the love of my children fills me everyday.
I follow my children along the path.
Watching them skip ahead,
I know I am blessed.
Warmth fills my soul.
I’m no longer empty.
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******