Content Note
This recording addresses experiences of sexual violence and may be triggering for some viewers. Please engage at your own pace and with care.
What would they say
Would you stay silent? Or learn ways to fight against the violence.
Reflection and Context
This piece was written from a place where silence felt heavier than the truth. From the place of carrying what happened in my body, in my memory, and in my spirit, while learning how to name it without shrinking. It speaks to the confusion of looking for safety where it didn’t exist, and to the quiet shame that can grow when pain is misunderstood, questioned, or minimized.
This poem also marks the shift from seeing myself only through what was done to me, to understanding that survival itself is a form of strength. It holds the tension between grief and resilience, between the weight of what was taken and the choice to keep living, loving, and becoming. At its heart, it is about finding my voice again, trusting it, and allowing healing to be something I am worthy of — even after everything.
Reflection Prompt
What does it mean for you to be believed, protected, and held with compassion?
Where in your life are you being invited to replace silence with truth, and shame with gentleness toward yourself?
Original Performance
This piece was originally performed as part of the Lips & Poetry series, where spoken word meets lived experience. Watch the original recording below to hear the rhythm, breath, and emotion that first carried these words.