Maria Mortimer Poet Free verse

How can I tell her?

At 1 years
Her tiny hands clutch my chest
So small and new
And I wish this was all she knew 
When must I teach her 
How to make a fist?
To save herself from 
Boys who copy fathers

At 5 years
Her brown eyes stare 
So beautiful and innocent 
And it kills me to wonder 
When must I teach her
To look at the ground?
To avoid the pain 
That comes in a court room

At 10 years 
She smiles with joy
So sweet and gleeful 
And it breaks mine to ask
When must I teach her 
To scream “NO!” ?
Because dare she freeze
In shock 
They claim consent 

At 11 years 
She watches the taxis 
Drive past
Her heart already hostile 
How do I tell her
She can never get in one?
Because her friend never got out

At 12 years
Her feet trod petals 
Drifting from her sisters
Casket 
How do I shelter her
From this world?

At 13 years
She calls crying 
The school says she’s lying 
How do I tell her?

At 16 years
She blew a whistle 
They asked what she wore
How do I tell her ?

At 17 years 
She sprayed pepper spray 
They asked what she said
How do I tell her?

At 18 years 
She tasered
They asked why she was walking
How do I tell her?

At 19 years
She called a friend 
But it was too late
How do I bury her?

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment