These poems were sent to me from rape and sexual assault survivors.

The Pear Tree

Little girl, sleeping underneath the pear tree
In the shade, the lake winds lift your hair.
Pretty girl, motionless in the long grass of
Summertime, the sweet birds sing for you.
Timid girl, waking softly as the evening
Sun goes down, and for you paints the sky.

It's dark now, girl.
With moonlight comes the frost,
your bed now of dead leaves.
It's cold now, girl.
A lake of ice to swim,
The night-bird sings your song.
You're here now girl.
Underneath the pear tree.
Underneath the pear tree.

Toys

Goodnight tattered, moth-eaten Mr. Grizzly,
Scruffy, balding, but loyal with dull black eyes;
Her devoted threadbare soldier of safety,
Abandoned again; she won't be home tonight.
Left to guard the shadows cast in emptiness,
He stands, bedraggled reminder of times past,
And waits for innocence to find some way back.

Goodnight old fuzzy yellow-patchwork blanket
Large enough for warmth, small enough to carry.
She has found a new world in rich red satin.
Now warm another orphan, Feather, her cat.
The "cuddly-fluffy" feeling fading so fast,
Fight to keep the stitches that made her happy;
Perhaps someday, a wish granted, she'll return.

The water was ice and she missed her blanket
The darkness was thick and her teddy was gone
The world was cold gray when her body was found
Good morning blackness, today is her birthday
Good afternoon stillness, please read the inscription
Goodnight silence: "Here lies daughter. We loved her."

Maquiladoras

The vultures wait in the forbidden tree
Watching the shadow of El Diablo
His footprints in the sand disappear. She
Cursed by destitution returns by slow
Prayer whispered in anxious sleep. She too sings
Thank you God for this step I am alive.

The light dies in the desert, Juarez brings
The demons hunting. She asks Him to drive
Away her fear so she can face the night
Alone. Watched through midnight shades of ashes
She steals along the path holding hope in
Clenched fists and quick breath. The vultures take flight -
Fill silence with beating wings. He dashes
Forth and with her tears he commits his sin.