No! Poem by Maria Sharon Moemise

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.