Not Her Fault

"It was your dress," they replied Was it? The ripped fabric cried The 5-year-old's laughter silenced that day Couldn't even scream, "I'm just a child," and ran away "It was your shorts," they claimed Was it? The torn seams proclaimed The 10-year-old's dreams shattered, flamed Couldn't even cry, "I'm just a girl," with shame "It was your clothes," they blamed Was it? The cloth asked, ashamed The 15-year-old's future stolen free, Asks herself, "Why me?" "It was your skirt," they accused Was it? The hem, now frayed, refused The little girl life was shattered with ease Couldn't even shout , "No! Please" A newborn, innocent and pure, Raped by a monster, without a cure. An old lady, frail and weak, Raped by a coward, with no humanity to seek. Can we still blame clothes? Can we have any hopes? Can we still shift the blame from his evil deeds To the victim's innocent needs? Blamed for wearing a summer dress, "too short". Blamed for wearing a top, "too flattering." Blamed for wearing clothes deemed "provoking." When will we learn? When will we see? It's not her dress, jeans, or skirt. It's the rapist's crime, not her fault to assert. Break the silence, end the shame Support survivors, shift the blame Teach consent, respect, boundaries too Let girls and women rise, their voices break through Let the voices of the silenced, roar louder than ever And justice will be served , forever.