Maria

Maria is from Croatia a far distant place

How she arrived here is such a disgrace

Dragged away from her family at only eighteen

With a promise of a life she had never seen

Coming to a position that would pay well

And keep her in clothes and send money home as well

So as to help her parents who were quite poor

And the money she would send would help them more

Put on a plane and arrived in the dark

Taken to a house that was quite stark

Raped and abused by many men

Never thought she would see home again

Made to work as a prostitute twenty-four seven

In dark and dingy rooms taking money she was given

Many a beating she had to take

Otherwise, her body would end up in a lake

Her body now battered her private parts torn

No longer had need of the dress she had worn

So often used didn’t know the time of day

I wish I were dead was all she would say

Sold on three times for a few thousand pounds

To further deprivation as bad as it sounds

The treatment the same, more rape more abuse

Forced to work in a massage parlour, what was the use

Frightened and lonely and at her wits end

She was lucky that one client became her friend

He arranged her escape, helped her to flee

But she still never knew how safe she would be

He got her to a safe house, many miles away

Now hounded by police who wanted help in any way

To stop those responsible, close their evil trade down

And make the streets safe in the city and town

Maria was lucky in the end she was saved

But would always be wary, alone and afraid

She could no longer trust anyone she would ever meet

Always apprehensive when out in the street

The Rapes and the Beatings her body abused

Deeply disturbed though not alone still confused

How anyone can survive such an horrific ordeal

The pain and the suffering is hard to conceal

She grew up as a young girl full of laughter and fun

Despite being poor, her life had begun

So these promises of a better life were welcome for sure

To help her poor parents, to give them more

Her illusions shattered, what’s left for her now

She has to learn to cope with the pain somehow

But someday she will meet that special man

Who will truly love her and help her all he can

Not all men are as evil as those who abused

Her trust and naivety for which she was used

What hurts her the most is her inner feeling,

Her body’s no longer her own, it will take time healing

The thought of someone being sold, used and abused

Is against all humanity, leaves one aghast and confused

How could countries let this happen, why no deterrent

The anger it raises, makes one incoherent

Something must be done to stop this evil trade

So people must be made aware, not kept in the shade

Maria had rights, which were just ripped away

But at least with help she lives to fight another day

So don’t bury your head in the sand

Raise up your voice and give Maria a hand

To raise awareness of this evil trade

Of selling young girl’s bodies and the money that’s made

No thought for the minds and souls that have been taken

Leaving bodies mangled, abused minds disturbed and shaken

Just remember it could be your very own daughter

So don’t wash it under the bridge of life, just like flowing water