So I stayed silent (trigger warning: mentions of rape)

MelissaJA

So I Stayed Silent.

I was 43 years old

I swiped right, but something was obviously wrong

A few sips of my drink and your smile got fuzzy.

I felt dizzy, falling into your open arms

Waking half-naked in the back of my car.

My pictures on the app were suggestive

My shirt low cut.

I must have been asking for it.

 

I was 22 years old

We were just friends, and the condom slipped or

Did you purposely peel it off and slip back in me?

No matter how much I begged, you wouldn’t stop

No matter how much I scrubbed,

I could not rid myself of your stench.

I aborted that child, and the memory forever Haunts me.

I probably asked for this.

 

I was 17 years old.

You were my boyfriends’ best friend, my friend too.

I woke up in the middle of a deep sleep

With you inside me.

The shame made me hide it for so long,

When the truth came out, my boyfriend left me.

It was obviously my fault; you were a good guy.

I was asking for it.

 

 I was 15 years old.

He was 30, and very charming.

He said I was mature for my age, made me believe it.

Told me I was ready, even when I knew I wasn’t.

Told me I would get in trouble if I did not keep it quiet,

Then moved on to all of my friends.

You were teaching us how to be adults.

We asked for it.

 

I was 8 years old.

We were in the middle of school,

you took me to use the bathroom.

I did not know what was going on,

nor what to say about it

So I stayed silent, for years.

There is no way in hell I was asking for it.

I won’t stay silent anymore.

 

 

  • Author: Melissa JA (Pseudonym) (Offline Offline)
  • Published: December 9th, 2020 22:54
  • Comment from author about the poem: Not all of these stories are my own, but I do have permission from those who told them to me to share them.
  • Category: Unclassified
  • Views: 32
  • Users favorite of this poem: Amon, L. B. Mek
Get a free collection of Classic Poetry ↓

Receive the ebook in seconds 50 poems from 50 different authors


Comments +

Comments6

  • Amon

    stanza no. 4, ey I got a 14 yr old cousin daughter who has been raped by her 56 yr old step father this past whole winter and we are struggling to bring justice for her, but the judiciary is like dead. She stayed silent too but the pain so unbearable that people could notice she was not right, to break the silence for her.
    This yours is a voice which must be head and not left unconsidered for the wellness of young girls for circumstances might shut them up

  • Goldfinch60

    In this life there are so many who 'stay silent', they need to talk out and let the people who attacked them be dealt with.

  • Vanz

    Very powerful and I'm proud of you for writing about it and sharing with all of us. Stay strong ❤️

  • MelissaJA

    Thanks everyone

  • L. B. Mek

    More power to you sister! Really well thought-out, hopefully your write will inspire/empower someone else to speak out and they can find a foothold to a tomorrow that's a little less bleak.

  • 🐤s.zaynab.kamoonpuri🌷🐦😽

    I have read many such true news stories international news stories and you have said it all in a powerful, taxing sarcastic way indeed. It is never the girls fault, it is the rapists crime and fault but it is quite the society's and parents fault too sometimes for failing to prevent such rape. Kudos.

    Plz do read and comment my newest poem too.



To be able to comment and rate this poem, you must be registered. Register here or if you are already registered, login here.