Survivor & Poet
Sean Wheeler
The Driftwood
Along a clouded rocky shore, in the sand or floating by.
See the driftwood sitting there, one face to water and one to sky.
It’s edges smooth and soft to touch yet driftwood there has seen so much.
Tossed about upon the waves, or thrown on rocks and into caves.
Each new rock will leave a brand, a scar or mark from touching land.
It reaches out from on the sea, return to land not meant to be.
The waters come to pull it back, to smooth the marks and hide the cracks.
The waters touch is cold it’s true, but hides the scars from showing thru.
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Along the shore the artist walks, scanning waves and searching rocks.
He spots the driftwood in the sand, its latest try to stay on land.
The artist He can see much more, what’s in that stick upon the shore.
He sees the possibilities, of what the stick can really be.
He does not see the cracks and chips, the breaks and tears or broken tips.
He sees the beauty in the wood, and knows inside is something good.
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I was the driftwood lying there. If waves should come I did not care.
I thought it’s what I’m meant to be, and who could ever care for me?
Yet the artist found me there, broken hurt and in despair.
He lifted me in gentle hand, and He returned me to the land.
He said, “I see what’s there in you. A light, a soul, a promise too”.
“I will take you home with me, and show what you were meant to be”.
And so I left the waters cold, with the artist as I was told.
His home was warm and welcomed me, and I was safe from cold and sea.
His gentle touch works with me still, to reveal in me His true will.
This artist not a man you see, but the One with greatest love for me.
His hand will fix the breaks and tears and take away the rocky scares.
He took me from the stormy sea, where nothing there did care for me.
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In His arms now I am new, and yes His light is shining through.
Yes, His light is shining through, and now I have a purpose too.
To find who I was meant to be, no more just driftwood on the sea.
To share this hope He’s placed inside. Reach out to others who have cried.
To others lost in darkness still as that is not the Father’s will.
To offer comfort given me, to others trapped on that dark sea.
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No longer trapped on waves and stone, this driftwood me is not alone.
With this hope He’s given me, I’m finally, fully and forever FREE.
My Image
Give voice to the words that cannot be spoken.
Speak words for the voices that cannot be heard.
Look at their eyes and tell what you see.
Look at their eyes, you're looking at me.
There in a cage and trapped in a place.
No way out and led to disgrace.
The camera looks on, an unblinking eye.
The images caught, do you see me cry?
I am 7, one of 3 children there.
Adults with us too, and us in despair.
Look in my eyes and tell what you see.
Look in my eyes and inside of me.
In that place I'm a thing, to them nothing more.
Used hit and hurt, what comes next, what’s in store?
AND THEN…
Too many years trapped in that place.
But I'm no longer there, and I have a face.
I have a heart and a soul and things now to do.
I have purpose today, to reach out to you.
Look in my eyes and what do you see?
My image restored, the real me.
A voice, restored and meant to be heard.
Look in my eyes, I want you to see.
No broken child, but a man who is FREE.
Sean Wheeler lives and works in Colorado. He was sex trafficked from around age 5 until age 9 and he experienced other forms of abuse for some 15 years, including having been used in child pornography. Sean is the author of the book Wretch available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, iTunes in books and through other outlets. Today, Sean speaks out on the issue of boys and child abuse. He is also the founder of Starfish Ministries, a 501(c)3, in Colorado.