Three Poems: One Survivor

An amazing woman wrote these three poems in the process of surviving and healing from domestic violence. I am honored to share her incredible journey here.

Poem 1: 'What It Means To Be A Victim
I am the beast

Which you have lain upon the alter

An offering to an angry God

I am the one

Chosen for purity's sake

Whose throat will be slit

As my blood spills out

Ask yourself

Have you come closer to God?

Is God now happy?

As my blood runs down the street

Ask yourself

Can we now find peace?

Or must we come back to this alter?

Again and again

I am the one

That sacrificial beast


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Poem 2: 'What It means To be A Survivor'
I have outlived

I have outlasted

I have remained alive

I am still here

As the waters recede

As the flames diminish

As the tremors subside

I am still here

Above the fray

Above all else

To rise like a phoenix

Above and beyond

Beyond belief

Beyond understanding

Beyond a reasonable doubt

Beyond your reach

I am still here

I have outlived

I have outlasted

I have remained alive


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Poem 3: 'What It Means To Heal'
Hello

I'm back

Again

From that secret place

Curled up

Afraid

No terrified

Hidden in the dark

Watching

Waiting

Wondering

Will I ever be safe?

Shhhhh!

Don't breathe

Not a sound

Don't let him hear you

Just the pounding of my heart

Beat by beat

Pumping

Life

Slowly

The rhythm

Brings forth a song

Music

Oh, I want to dance

To sing

To move

These numb limbs of mine

I stir

I stretch

Release

Breathe

Tingling

I begin to move

To sway

To lift up my voice

What beauty

Is that really me?

Singing

Laughing

Unabashed

Uninhibited

Unafraid

So unlike before

So I dance

I sing

I love

Back again

08/06/09

Dedicated to Betsy