No
By Sharon Maria Moemise
Cast in concrete, memories of when
I became a woman, forced by men
All I feared became a reality just as
the traces of childhood ran past
Shadows, whafting a stale sweat smell
Grabbing at me just as I fell
No one heard me shouting, screaming
No! They pushed, breathing, heaving
A child ran past, looking, seeing
A girl frightened, stripped of her being
No-one listened, five beasts saw
As I crawled away, shamed, beaten raw
No! A woman\'s cry, a girl\'s plea...
A sigh, a moan... A spirit set free
The decision to bear your shame
Tainted woman, that\'s your name
Pain, hurt and mostly the shame
Knowing, not telling, accepting blame
A childhood robbed, cruelly stolen
A web of vengeance, hate, slowly woven.