I Will A Fierce Warrior Be, 'till Not Another Woman Dies
I'm going to Take Back The Night tomorrow.
Maybe even do the survivor speak out, if I can. I don't know how it's organized.
When I talk about it... it's kind of like I'm confronting him, in a way. Like, if someone around knows him, or knows someone like him, at least they can do something about it. Kind of a stretch, I know, but it's a nice thought.
I've told my story to family and friends, both real world and internet. And last spring, I told my story to my entire senior lit class. That was beyond empowering. So... next logical step, right?
I can do this.
Also, here's a poem I wrote my sophomore year, awhile after it happened. I wrote it during my Social Studies class during a video.
Let’s take back the night!
I want to keep my eyes forward
instead of looking over my shoulder.
I want to greet that man when he greets me
instead of speeding my pace.
Let’s take back the day!
I’d like to walk safely to the store
rather than being offered “rides” from strangers with candy.
I’d like to feel secure at school
rather than getting threatening comments from the boys.
I don’t see what’s so crazy, extreme, unreasonable
about just wanting to be safe
from things that go bump in the night.
We take playgrounds away from children
to keep their knees clean,
but we can’t be proactive about
the Monsters beneath our beds.
Don’t tell me to suck it up!
Don’t tell me it’s my fault!
I won’t lie down and accept something so unfair!
I won’t stand back and ignore this injustice!
Maybe even do the survivor speak out, if I can. I don't know how it's organized.
When I talk about it... it's kind of like I'm confronting him, in a way. Like, if someone around knows him, or knows someone like him, at least they can do something about it. Kind of a stretch, I know, but it's a nice thought.
I've told my story to family and friends, both real world and internet. And last spring, I told my story to my entire senior lit class. That was beyond empowering. So... next logical step, right?
I can do this.
Also, here's a poem I wrote my sophomore year, awhile after it happened. I wrote it during my Social Studies class during a video.
Let’s take back the night!
I want to keep my eyes forward
instead of looking over my shoulder.
I want to greet that man when he greets me
instead of speeding my pace.
Let’s take back the day!
I’d like to walk safely to the store
rather than being offered “rides” from strangers with candy.
I’d like to feel secure at school
rather than getting threatening comments from the boys.
I don’t see what’s so crazy, extreme, unreasonable
about just wanting to be safe
from things that go bump in the night.
We take playgrounds away from children
to keep their knees clean,
but we can’t be proactive about
the Monsters beneath our beds.
Don’t tell me to suck it up!
Don’t tell me it’s my fault!
I won’t lie down and accept something so unfair!
I won’t stand back and ignore this injustice!