turn the first ‘b’
to bitch
in the resting bitch face
you hope will protect you
add an ‘h’ to the ‘o’
to express your surprise
when it doesn’t work
‘wh’ goes before the ‘y’
which is the question
you will scream into the universe
of your mind
while your mouth remembers how to smile
the first ‘s’ is for silence
and the last ‘s’
is for survivor
between that is ‘will’
will you tell
will you always be afraid
will it always hurt
it eventually turns into
your will
to carry on
then there’s ‘be’
be angry
be scared
be patient with yourself
be kind to the part of you that is a victim
be nurturing to the part of you that is a warrior
then there’s the ‘boy’
this one is the toughest
because you may have to watch him
walk away free
no longer responsible
for leaving you
in chains
but remember
that’s how you make it to the last ‘s’
and in case you need reminding
that ‘s’
is for survivor
