God Only Knows (Poetry)

Who was I back then? —
I just can’t recognise
the lines on my face or
the fear in my eyes

The girl I once was
was the mask I saw through
it’s all there in the glass
now the mirror tells true

But where does this pain come from?
Why does it carve deep
so thought fails to function
and grief cannot sleep?

I was young — I was hopeful
my heart heard the song
the future held promise —
where did things go wrong?

Was it all propaganda —
were we willingly fooled
by the movers and shakers
who moulded and schooled

young minds that were trusting —
who soaked it all in
without even a question
or doubt lingering? ...

I was dumb to believe them
I realise that now
and I so want to change things
but God only knows how