The words that remained unsaid
For the want of a listening ear,
And the thoughts within her head
Of memories of inexplicable fear.
Oh, the pain of a heart that's broken
And the guilt of a tormented soul:
As each callous word ill spoken
Does continue to take its toll.
And as she invents ways to conceal
The anguish that’s deep within,
Her exertions do only reveal
The scars from her tormentor’s sin.
How long can she carry a burden
That never was hers to bear?
Must she remain guilt-ridden
While her offender doesn’t care?
If she comes out and tells her story
Would they take her at her word?
Would justice win her victory
When her voice is finally heard?
What causes her trepidation
About speaking out aloud?
Is it not the intimidation
From a hostile, cynical crowd?
Friends, fathers, sons and brothers,
We cannot look the other way
As our sisters, daughters and mothers
To baseness would fall prey.
We just cannot remain callous
In the wake of gross injustice,
Nor must our apathy suppress
A genuine need for justice.
Eric A Trott
15th October 2018
Copyright © 2018 by Eric A Trott.