I Told You

I TOLD YOU I told you that Uncle Danny touched me It hurt and made me cry I told you I didn’t like him You said I shouldn’t lie. I told you my bra got snapped in class That I was treated like a toy Your response was simply That boys will be boys. I told you I was raped By a man that I knew Despite my tears and anger You asked what did I do. I told you a man came in my dorm Violated me after breaking my door When I reported to campus police They asked me what I wore. I told you my boss Grabbed my breast at work I wanted to file a complaint You replied just ignore the jerk. I got groped at the club last night By this guy who was a punk I wanted to call the police You told me that he’s just drunk. I’ve been telling you these things Happen year after year You say you are listening But do you really hear? I told you these things happened to me As you laugh, scoff, and snort Blaming and shaming endlessly And you wonder why we don’t report. I wonder when these excuses will end Even though the road seems insurmountable When will society stand And start holding abusers accountable? Until then I will continue forward With my words as proof I shall walk in the light And stand in my truth.