The combination of a friend’s poem and a photo prompt has inspired me to create a poetry series dealing with the issue of child abuse/child sexual abuse. So you’ve been warned in advance that my poetry may deal with things you don’t want to think about, but are a daily struggle to overcome by the survivors of this, for lack of a better word, epidemic.
Playing Adult Games
The make-up can’t disguise
the hideous scars buried deep inside.
It simply assists in covering up
the crime from which he still denies.
It also helps mark the tracks
of the numerous tears she’s cried.
A little girl lost in a woman’s body.
In a past where she’s the guide.
Paths are labeled despair and anguish.
Mouths are taped to silence.
Eyes are squeezed shut to blind.
No one must know of the violence.
Collars are worn by wild animals.
To the boy there wasn’t much difference.
Acceptance is the only thing excepted.
As he took away her innocence.
For five harrowing and degrading years
she was his slave and sexual toy.
In that time she learned of filthy things.
Most important was not to madden or annoy.
Anything other than compliance awakened
the angry beast hidden within the teenage boy.
Furious fists would fly, burning bruises would form.
His ultimate goal was to conquer and destroy.
Looking at the woman today you won’t
see signs of what happened long ago.
Only a certain few understand her story.
She doesn’t allow her stringing past to show.
She has children and a granddaughter now.
They get the love she has to bestow.
But, if you peer beyond her well placed mask
you’ll see the results of her survivor’s glow.
