Survivor poem

This bold and profound poem was written by an anonymous survivor. Thank you for sharing your words with us.

You took something that wasn’t yours to take. 

Robbed me of my choice, made me feel I had no voice.

You took something that wasn’t yours to take.

Distorted every image of myself I see, created demons and trapped them inside me.

You took something that wasn’t yours to take.

I don’t forgive you.  People will continue to say that forgiveness will set me free.  Well then, I forgive me.

I forgive me for allowing what you did to make me think I was worthless. I forgive me for the years of torture now I know that I am blameless.

You don’t define me, I define me.

I will place blame where blame is due, and if even for a moment, you will carry this weight, too.