after five years
i woke up one night to violation
doing what he felt was his right
a veil of denial
kept me safe for years
one bright morning,
i woke and felt the veil lift
i sat there free, weak
Truth burst fresh through long hardened earth
strength from those trusted
four years later
i stepped into the night, inhaled the crisp cool air
behind the crunch of pebbles closing in
a familiar voice greeted me, and then there i stood
face to face with my rapist
he smiled, shared his achievements
happiness, joy and nervousness
as he looked into my eyes
the moment full
my rapist asked
what went wrong with us?
it was so perfect, why did you leave me?
My disbelief as I searched his eyes
three times I asked
Are you sure you want to hear what I have to say?
three times, yes
the rapist replied
Inhale
Exhale
One by one
all the hidden Truths
between us
chronologically revealed for
the rapist to see
you were perfect until
you nurtured insecurities, from jealousy and hatred
you beat on Me, left My body bruised and battered
you threatened to kill yourself
you threatened to kill Me
you threatened to kill any other man I might one day love
you raped Me
I watched the rapist
as I aired our Truths
his eyes now downcast, he toed at some pebbles
I waited, waited, waited
unable to look at Me, the rapist spoke
you have to understand
i was young when i did those things
Pity swelled my heart
and from my lips one final truth
I was young too, but
I knew that what you were doing
Was Wrong.
I waited, waited, waited
Looking at this rapist who had nothing more to say
I turned around and left him
standing there in the crisp night air
a half-formed man with eyes downcast, toeing at pebbles
Del Jacko
2009
i woke up one night to violation
doing what he felt was his right
a veil of denial
kept me safe for years
one bright morning,
i woke and felt the veil lift
i sat there free, weak
Truth burst fresh through long hardened earth
strength from those trusted
four years later
i stepped into the night, inhaled the crisp cool air
behind the crunch of pebbles closing in
a familiar voice greeted me, and then there i stood
face to face with my rapist
he smiled, shared his achievements
happiness, joy and nervousness
as he looked into my eyes
the moment full
my rapist asked
what went wrong with us?
it was so perfect, why did you leave me?
My disbelief as I searched his eyes
three times I asked
Are you sure you want to hear what I have to say?
three times, yes
the rapist replied
Inhale
Exhale
One by one
all the hidden Truths
between us
chronologically revealed for
the rapist to see
you were perfect until
you nurtured insecurities, from jealousy and hatred
you beat on Me, left My body bruised and battered
you threatened to kill yourself
you threatened to kill Me
you threatened to kill any other man I might one day love
you raped Me
I watched the rapist
as I aired our Truths
his eyes now downcast, he toed at some pebbles
I waited, waited, waited
unable to look at Me, the rapist spoke
you have to understand
i was young when i did those things
Pity swelled my heart
and from my lips one final truth
I was young too, but
I knew that what you were doing
Was Wrong.
I waited, waited, waited
Looking at this rapist who had nothing more to say
I turned around and left him
standing there in the crisp night air
a half-formed man with eyes downcast, toeing at pebbles
Del Jacko
2009