Shhh

TW// SA. Personal

I was always taught to not say anything when it hurts
Stay quiet, don’t tell anyone, even if I was dying of thirst

Never knew how to say no
Don’t know my boundaries anymore

It’s hard for me to recognize when someone is using me
It was hard to stop someone when they were abusing me

No meant nothing when it came to me
It’s hard thinking this is the woman I’m meant to be

Men constantly taking advantage of me
I can’t wear what I want and feel free

Always getting told that’s just how men are
They constantly get excused for how s****y they are

Manipulated into doing the things I don’t want
Traumatized so bad that it’s been blocked, I forgot

You wonder how one can recover from this
But women are constantly getting dismissed

Searching for love where there is none
When will this all just be done

Crazy for overreacting and crying
But you can’t see my pain when you’re prying

Reviews

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

A strong and honest assessment on today's society. It is absolutely shameful that even in my 57 yrs of life so very little has changed in societal behavior and attitudes through the years. For every one step forward we take 5 steps back. My generation has continued to perpetuate these vile mentalities of our worst nature into the minds of children. We can no longer rely on a vision of hope but only on the will of action. Fundamental beliefs are being taken away and stripped by a vociferous religious few. Those who have fallen to false propagandist views of a past where everyone lived in harmony and an equal shared freedom. That has never happened. We have struggled for equality since this nation's founding and I fear it will continue to its end. Rights are slowly being stripped away. We see it with women, voting, justice, and will not stop there. It is only the beginning and I feel your anxiety to which this poem speaks to is relevant to our greater societal woes. Keep fighting the good fight. We need more truthful poetry like this.

[keith]

your honest bravery is carried well with these words
it leaves me, the reader wondering, asking what can i do?
sympathy isn't enough ... these words are harsh yet true
you have the gift many do not ... an awareness within yourself
stand strong crystal and keep your writings coming for they are truly inspirational