Plushies - By: Madi Carey

My stuffed animals know more

They know more than my parents

More then my friends

More than anyone

They see everything

Every tear that slides down my cheek

Every text I send that boy

Every laugh I have on call

As long as I’m in my room they see it

They feel themselves loosing stuffing

They loose stuffing as I squeeze them

As I try and hide the pain of my heart within their fur

They see and hear everything

They hear the times I talk in my sleep

The squeals I make when I’m excited

Or the way I talk to myself when I’m reading

They hear it all

They sit and listen

They hear me ranting to my friends on call

They hear the sorrys I say to myself when I'm alone that I wish i actually said out loud

They see the times I look in the mirror wishing I had a different body

They see the pain in my eyes when I’m sick

They hear the sniffles of my crying

All while they hear and see stuff

They sit there

They listen

They learn

They get to know us

When everyone leaves they know

When you loose someone they know

That can feel it

They can see it

They can hear it

Have they left you yet

No

Stuffed animals are the only real friends

They know every fight you have

When they fall off the bed and you pick them up they hear your sorry

The know you wish you said it to that one person and not them

They are there for you

They let you cry into them

Plushies are your best friends

Maybe you grow out of them

But they will never

Unsee

Unhear

Unfeel

All the things that went on in that room when no one was around

They see the small dance parties you have

They see the smile when you get that one notification

They see the pain you feel when your sad

They know everything about you

Plushies are your best friends

Madi Carey

Please give a detailed explanation about the meaning and main idea of this poem.

The main idea of the poem is to show how stuffed animals may not have emotions however they will always be there either way. The meaning is to show the love people have for stuffed animals and how sometimes they are there for you more than actual people even if they don’t actually have emotions

Please explain your writing and thought process regarding this poem.

I had my stuffed animals next to me and i thought about the difference things that i do in my room and how much they are in that room or see what i do when im there. I thought about the years ive had my stuffed animals and phases they have seen me go through with their fake eyes.

Why did you choose to write this poem?

I use writing as a way to cope when I’m upset or stressed. This one in particular I was going through a point where I had lost all my friends and only had my stuffed animals for comfort. I thought about how many people go through the same thing and can relate. I didn’t know how to explain out loud what I was feeling or how my stuffed animals made me feel but as soon as I put my pen on the paper I knew exactly what to write about and all the emotions I felt.

Do you have any tips or anything to share with the youth writers who may be reading this?

My tip would to be if you have an idea just write it. If you think it’s stupid just right. I get that it can be hard to start a book or poem but if you have an idea if you just start writing it will flow out easily. My favourite quote that I would like to share for others to hear would be “you can’t edit a blank page but you can edit a bad one.”