She took the beatings, the Blood smearing her skin Took the lashings, and the slaps, And hid her grin The first time a man gripped her thighs, Ripped them apart, and forced his way Past her heart, numbing her to love, Then threw her away Numbed down deep to her soul, She almost broke, almost cried, Almost tied the knot tight, and Almost, almost, almost died She gave birth to generations Told them her stories and Unto them she bequeathed All her spirit and her worries She reached past the pain, Pushed past the slaked lust Turned herself inside out Despite the bruises and distrust She built her walls high, Enough to endure the storms life Somehow thought she could survive And relished a calm from the strife A destiny couldn’t be resisted Nevertheless, she persisted
dedicated to any one who identifies as woman and has been told to shut up