Rising sophomore Natalie Horah was recently recognized by Harbor House – the Northwest Georgia Child Advocacy Center as the first-place winner of the organization’s National Child Abuse Prevention Month Poetry Contest. Horah wrote “On the Remains” in response to different child abuse statistics and inspirational quotes that were given to the area student writers that participated.
“There are a lot of statistics about drug abuse and jail time served by people who were abused as children,” said Horah. "I wanted to show another side, to break down those stereotypes and show that there’s an inner strength that a lot of people have within themselves to escape their past—so that it doesn’t define them.”
The student found out about the contest from English teacher John Cox, who encouraged the class to enter the competition. As the winner of the contest, she received a gift card to Barnes & Noble.
“I grew up in an underfunded public school, and had a few friends who lived in unsafe situations with dads who would get drunk and angry,” said Horah. “These friends were really inspirational, and even through all of that they were still compassionate, friendly people.”
The sophomore has been interested in creative writing since sixth grade, and plans to pursue the discipline in college. Horah currently serves on the staff of the Inkslinger, and will join the Jabberwokk staff beginning this fall. In particular, she enjoys writing short stories. Over the break, she will continue to develop a book that she began writing last summer.
“I wish people would give more value to poetry than they do, because it does tend to scare people away,” said Horah. “In all honesty, I sat down and wrote the poem in about 15 minutes—and maybe it’s a gift—but for me it’s just really fun to write poetry.”
She is the daughter of Stephanie and David Horah of Euharlee, Ga.
Some would think
That bruises fade,
And with a shrink,
My mind to aid,
I’d grow tougher
Than before,
Despite a father
Whose fists I bore.
Some would think
Once bones do break,
That hearts will shrink,
That souls will ache,
With time voices hush,
And scars do form
In the cold crush
After the storm.
I’m breaking down
The walls they form,
I will not frown,
I will not mourn,
For I know someday
The light will shine
On the remains
Of this house of mine.
My path won’t break
But will always bend,
My will won’t shake
My life I’ll mend,
I’ll fight the darkness
Of lives like mine,
To prove that
I won’t be defined.
Harbor House is a Child Advocacy Center based in Rome that works with children who are alleged victims of sexual and severe physical abuse. The organization's mission is to provide a safe and caring place to evaluate the child who may have been abused, to encourage the collaboration of social and legal agencies for the benefit of the child, and to at all times lessen the trauma suffered by the child.
