Help me please to conquer my terror,
Let me sleep undisturbed until the dawn.
Listening intently at floorboards creaking,
Of staggering footsteps as they near my door.
Knowing ultimately what comes next,
Will shame me so completely, to my core.
For the pain and anguish that will follow,
To be locked up, put away forevermore.
Does my wretched life mean so little?
Can you not hear beyond your walls?
Please look at me. Save me.
Why can’t you believe what I said before?
Does your inaction have any justification?
Do you all not see me and my cause?
My life destroyed. My future now uncertain.
Please tell me, what’s my recourse?
©Vinod Ralh. 2019. All rights reserved.
Written to promote the CAPSau Safe Children Conference.
The Spoken Word 