No Words

I was beaten into silence as a young child
from my father's brutalizing rage and 
psychological torture as he punched me.

When I was 5, a man exposed himself, to me
I ran fast terrified, no words were spoken.

When I was 21 my boyfriend said, “I’m going to 
F-Up your pretty face so no one ever looks
at you again,” with that, I had no words.

When the ER doctors urged me to tell the Police
that boyfriend fractured my cheekbone & blackened
my eyes, I never spoke of these assaults.

When riots broke out in high school, a large boy 
shoved me against the wall, his hands on my
throat, he yelled say something, I had no words.

When several powerful lawyers I worked
with made sexual comments, I quit instead
of finding my words.

When a careless driver struck me down
altering my life, as I lay in the street, 
a crowd around me, I had no words.

While visiting a relative, her drunken boyfriend 
kicked me in the eye almost detaching my 
retina, in court I cried, no words were spoken.
 
At a club, I drank soda, got dizzy; a guy put me
in his car, as I vomited; he threw me behind a 
building; I never spoke of this attempted rape.

When my ex-husband committed
emotional & physical crimes against me, 
I left without a word.

Still society has bullied me into silence otherwise 
risking the harsh judgment of their punishing
remarks on my character.

Today, my words are not so eloquent,  
but they do contain hard truths, as
God is always my Witness.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2025

Poem

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Grieves Avatar
August 11, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Sometimes.. there are no words, Diane. Powerful. Blessings C:) x
Godwin Avatar
May 23, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Let it out, shine on. The hotter the kiln is, the more beautiful the end product is, all you've endured may have been for that purpose. I validate that it has been hell, especially enduring such as a child with no point of reference about what a functional life is. Help others, love yourself and rising above, and eliminating, dysfunction, this I pray ... CayCay
Evans Avatar
March 14, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Wow. The emotion here is so raw, yet moving. God bless you..............peace!
Perna Avatar
March 15, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Thank you
Narain Avatar
February 10, 2025 at 11:08 AM
A true heartfelt emotional poem. Wish you happiness in future.
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