With the heightened incidences of sexual violence thought i should write a poem of hope dedicated to all victims and survivors. The night might be gloomy but one thing is sure the sun shall still rise again.

The Wailing Smiles

By Bernadette French
Lovely! Glowing! Radiant – the compliments of my smile
Yet the pain, moan, wail within I sigh
None can imagine; none can Fathom
The pain from the intensity of my stolen pride
The dignity of a world reaped apart is my trial
But then I smile

Infancy spared me not from my defiler
Blood relations was no saving grace
Family ties was neither an enough escape
My pride stolen; brutally snatched
Again I smile

My mental battle to forget
Remains my constant regret
Immersed in shame and guilt
Locked in the prison society built
Hunted by societies’ blames
Stigma – my new name
Still I smile

Wet pillow from my tearful sleepless nights
Questions! Confusion questing for shedding of light
Answers too scared to re write
Feelings of I should have rather died
Yet I smile

I smile, Alas!
I smile for real
I smile for I survived
I smile to heal
I smile to recover
I smile to conquer

I smile knowing the shame belongs only to my abuser
I smile for hope
My dawn may have cheated me
But my dusk empowers me
My wail has become my greatest strength
I smile! I smile! I smile