A poem of a different sort for me....

She Knew Why She Was In Jail
 
Because Brainless is her nickname
Because home pricked like sharp barbs
Because she was in XXL size clothing
Because a chocolate laid at her plate each morning
Because her mom’s shoes tapped a staccato
Because she heard    Only jerks go to proms
Because tragedy says     I don’t know, just go away
Because her dad’s silence built walls
Because she didn’t swing first but stayed in the fight
Because light is the size of a mud-puddle
Because tightened lips cut like a knife     You ought to be grateful
Because You Tube didn’t give the best answers
Because her mom repeated     Blah blah blah, I can’t hear you
Because her sister smugly said     Are you sure?
Because her hair is curly instead of straight
Because she believed that boy     Even wolves think you’re ugly
Because dreams don’t come true

Pat

I don't mind this poem or its style at all.  I think it is clear.

I have a couple tiny edits:

Not sure we need anything after XXL (since that is implied)
YouTube is one word.

I wonder if you can add a bit of "order" to the presentation of family members.  What about grouping the voices together?

I like it.  I am not sure how many in your group will though

Todd

Obviously working on it...here is my edit of it since reading your comments. (I agree that groups might not care for the poem, but maybe a journal will.)  

She Knew Why She Was In Juvie
 
Because Brainless is her nickname
Because home pricked like sharp barbs
Because she didn’t swing first but stayed in the fight
Because her hair is curly instead of straight
Because she is in XXL
Because a chocolate laid by her plate each morning
Because her mom’s shoes tapped a staccato
Because she heard    Only jerks go to proms
Because tightened lips cut like a knife     You ought to be grateful
Because her mom repeated     Blah blah blah, I can’t hear you
Because her sister smugly spoke     Are you sure?
Because she understood that boy     Even wolves think you’re ugly
Because tragedy says     I don’t know, just go away
Because her dad’s silence built walls
Because YouTube didn’t give the best answers
Because light is the size of a mud-puddle

Pat

Wow.  What a punch the last line is now.  Excellent.

I think I prefer "jail" rather than "juvie."  "Jail" seems to indicate a life more than a misdirection of high school . . . an underage mistake.

Powerful.  Will you share this with your group?  I'd love to be a fly on the wall of that interaction.

Todd

I'll share if/when we ever meet again....!  Maybe in December....

THanks for your good help!