submitted anonymously, Johannesburg, South Africa

Innocence lost
Maybe it was never there
Still counting the cost
U left me so bare,

Now my voice feels silent and mute
The time it was needed
Unheard or just ignored by the brute
My calls went unheeded

No means no
A phrase that’s everywhere
No means no
Doesn’t matter he didn’t care

Please don’t I remember pleading
But he’s got more power
And so I’m left with my insides bleeding
A harsh memory now a scar forever
No more human, I feel like just a numb thing

For months on end
I see you, a carefree unaffected man
So clueless, you like to pretend
Lying, claiming I am a fan

All these months I stood and saw
You hang with the guys, laugh and joke
Every second another part of me tore
While you sat socialised and drank your coke

Everytime I look at my wrist
I see your hand holding me down
Will I ever know if I was the first
Whatever I said it was like I never made a sound
But now with my sound you I curse

Wish I could cut my hand
At that point you held me
Wish I was in another land
So that human again I could be

The last year was filled with pain and tears
What do you do when true are your fears
I felt not worthy of people I cared about
Forgetting my friends, all I wanted to do was scream and shout

Soon a year later it will be
The incident and the pain, not yet just a memory
But stronger I am now
And today I take a vow

You will never own me or any other girl
Open the door and let justice come to your world
Your excuses and explanations are all lame
I may never be me again
But for you dear rapist it will be the end

For 11 months I tried to get my feelings down, but never could. Almost a year on this is what I managed. Sadly it doesnt even scratch the surface!