What did you think would happen?
**TRIGGER WARNING** Mentions of sexual and physical abuse
Would I lay down and let myself die
Roll over and give in to each punch
No broken bones didn’t mean I wasn’t broken
If you stripped me bare, hair, skin and fibres
What would the world really see —
Look closely
A shell or just a skeleton? No!
The world would see brokenness, bruised bones
A broken heart with a fist shaped indent
My head full of blows and pain
Look past the physical image and imagine —
Close your eyes and feel
My pain, my problem so I’m told
The uterus scarred — should be sacred
My brain carrying guilt and shame
Keep looking for the signs of strength
Please keep inspecting my rawness
But then…
I found strength to climb
I replaced each layer of my being
I did not let myself die
I did not give up on life
I gave up taking more pain
So…
What did you think would happen?
© D.Reay2023
Please enjoy this poem, a real insight into the abuse that I endured during my growing up! It is another one of my most raw poems!
Thank you for reading.
