"Oppression can only survive through silence."
Carmen de Monteflores
I am the unseen voice in your ear – the one
who aspired, more than anything,
from a little kid, to be a teacher...
the invisible one who hid behind a veil...
the one who started a secret school
to learn to read and write; how it felt
to see each other smile – me and five
other girls...ones who, for a while
had hands and minds, and for the first time,
real identities ... until they barged in;
burned our books, locked the door
to my bedroom; then raped me.
The one with child, who never realised
until nearly too late, except a friend did,
and made a herbal remedy, but as I lay
bleeding, she was being beaten...
for walking along the street; her shoes
made too much noise...a new law
just brought in. Tortured, until
she told them everything...and then
I was stoned. Two days ago would’ve
been my sixteenth birthday...the one
they called ‘promiscuous’; the ‘baby’
that bled out of me proved it, they said...
The one does not ask for your prayers
of mourning, or your pity, only that
you listen, to at least twelve million of us;
to the unseen voice in your ear.
Comments
Beeme | December 18, 2010 - 18:23
Very powerful, poignant and haunting Tina.
Beeme xx
skinner_jennifer | December 18, 2010 - 18:33
Definitely a good one for the IP Tina,
Jenny.
Silver Spun Sand | December 18, 2010 - 18:51
Thanks, so much, Beeme.
Tina xx
Silver Spun Sand | December 18, 2010 - 18:52
Glad you thought so, Jennifer and my thanks to you for reading this one.
Tina
celticman | December 18, 2010 - 19:52
torturous, but in a good way, well done with the IP.
Silver Spun Sand | December 18, 2010 - 20:02
Thanks;-)
seashore | December 18, 2010 - 23:56
I can only echo celticman, Tina.
Silver Spun Sand | December 19, 2010 - 09:49
Many thanks;-)
shoe | December 19, 2010 - 13:57
All the more shocking in it's reality, Excellent take on the I.P.
Silver Spun Sand | December 19, 2010 - 14:35
Appreciate your reading this, Shirley. Keep warm this snowy weekend;-)
Tina
MistakenMagic | December 19, 2010 - 17:14
I agree with Beeme - truly haunting. This is a brilliant piece, Tina - raw and gritty. But it says what it needs to. Very well done!
Magic xxx
Silver Spun Sand | December 19, 2010 - 17:28
Thanks, Magic. You have appreciated its very essence.
Some things are best left unembellished, as you say.
Tina xxx
jennifer | December 20, 2010 - 12:20
Gosh, quite difficult to read, this one. Quite a statement.
J x
Silver Spun Sand | December 20, 2010 - 12:40
Yes, it is that, Jennifer and not easy to write, which is why I so appreciate your comment. Thank you.
T x
Kahdai | December 24, 2010 - 23:35
Its terrible, poem is good though Tina, hope you know what I mean, well done for writing it though x K
Silver Spun Sand | December 25, 2010 - 13:14
I know exactly what you mean, Kahdai. You have expressed yourself very well, and I agree.
T;-)x
Denzella | February 27, 2012 - 22:20
Hello SSS
Tina, this to me is a departure from your usual brilliant style but I have to say this is something else.
Powerfully terrifying in its message. For me this is one of your greatest poems. It is so graphic "The baby that bled out of me"
Tina, here is a contradiction in terms. Despite all of the above... words fail me!
Moya
Silver Spun Sand | February 28, 2012 - 09:52
Hello there, Moya;-)
Firstly, may I say, thank you for reading this. Not an easy read, or write, as you can imagine.
This is a topic very close to my heart...my husband having spent many years in parts of the world where this kind of thing is commonplace. Hopefully, one day, it will be history.
Tina