Moonless Nights Over South Sudan

Moonless Nights over South Sudan heartless Moon, don’t tell me that you weren’t looking when soulless soldiers dragged me from my mama’s terrified arms in our village in Rubkona County I know you covered your ears so you wouldn’t hear my screams piercing the fetid air as those butchers dropped their pants repeatedly ripping my body and soul apart and I saw you cover your eyes so blinded that you wouldn’t see the stark horror reflected in my own eyes the hot tears scorching my cheeks sobbing for childhood forever lost oh Mother Moon, Mother Moon please cover your face behind billowy black clouds so that you can’t see your daughter’s dejected, dead eyes cowardly Moon, I forgive you even after you turned your back on me filling my days only with your dark side as I sink deeper into a black hole with no hope to guide me safely home but helpless Moon, how can I blame you? for you’re only a mere observer powerless to defend me feeling guilty for abandoning your innocent children Moon, you’ve witnessed it all before the torn and bleeding the tortured and maimed all tied tightly to weeping trees reeking of despair and pain Moon, will you soon forget my body dripping with bloody shame? will anyone even remember me? am I no one…with no name? will you, Moon, mourn for me? like you Moon, I am already ancient over a millennium it seems yearning for freedom… waiting for death… and I’m only twelve years old Note: This piece is dedicated to all the women and young girls who have been abducted, raped, and/or killed in the secret rape camps in South Sudan over the past two years. According to a human rights investigator, many of them are held indefinitely, tied up with hundreds of other women in these camps and used as sex slaves. Those women who escape from the sex camps are the lucky ones. 09-29-2015 Contest: Must be Read Sponsor: Silent One Placement: 3rd