deepundergroundpoetry.com
Standing With The Sisters
The courtroom fails you
endlessly
picking details
off you
with biased tweezers
scrolling
your past
for any clue of
suggestive
commentary
airbrushing
your photos
from Halloween
presenting tropical bikini shots
anything with a splash of skin
to vividly demonstrate
what you wear
matters
and what you wore
incited it
* * *
Your words are getting louder
and the sentence of public opinion
is starting to sway a little in your favour
but for every girl that comes forward,
how many do not?
The justice system remains stoically stagnant
I am merely a working man
who respects my equals
My rebellion feels insignificant
I won a 50/50 draw not too long ago
and decided to donate half
the winnings to the Sexual Assault Centre
in my community
Last June,
I hiked my daughter onto my shoulders
and we joined in a Slutwalk parade.
This shit haunts me, too.
endlessly
picking details
off you
with biased tweezers
scrolling
your past
for any clue of
suggestive
commentary
airbrushing
your photos
from Halloween
presenting tropical bikini shots
anything with a splash of skin
to vividly demonstrate
what you wear
matters
and what you wore
incited it
* * *
Your words are getting louder
and the sentence of public opinion
is starting to sway a little in your favour
but for every girl that comes forward,
how many do not?
The justice system remains stoically stagnant
I am merely a working man
who respects my equals
My rebellion feels insignificant
I won a 50/50 draw not too long ago
and decided to donate half
the winnings to the Sexual Assault Centre
in my community
Last June,
I hiked my daughter onto my shoulders
and we joined in a Slutwalk parade.
This shit haunts me, too.
Published 11th Jan 2018
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11th Jan 2018 8:13am
society spends a lot of time telling women how not to be raped & not enough time telling men not to. period.
cheers for this from a survivor.
cheers for this from a survivor.
11th Jan 2018 11:22am
That attitude infuriates me. I want to live in a world of expression. Nobody should modify their behaviour to be "safer". As someone who knows first-hand, your comment means a lot, shadoe.
Anonymous
- Edited 11th Jan 2018 8:55pm
11th Jan 2018 8:49pm
Thank you for writing this piece, it means a lot to
know that men are strong enough to take a stand
for theirselves, us, as well as for every woman
in their family.
I think this should be posterized for setting a foundation
that brings likewise values together built between
man and woman.
I love this killer of hypocrisy and wrongful judgement.
and unlawful acts... its sickening because these issues
are not brought to light enough. Which poses another
matter too stemming into maless and childhood trauma
under my skin.
Again, merci.
know that men are strong enough to take a stand
for theirselves, us, as well as for every woman
in their family.
I think this should be posterized for setting a foundation
that brings likewise values together built between
man and woman.
I love this killer of hypocrisy and wrongful judgement.
and unlawful acts... its sickening because these issues
are not brought to light enough. Which poses another
matter too stemming into maless and childhood trauma
under my skin.
Again, merci.
12th Jan 2018 1:02am
Thank you for that. I am glad to see this appreciated. We are all impacted by this. Despite any of our appetites or preferences, this is clearly a problem. Why do victims have to explain themselves? I stand up for anyone who has had to deal with sexual abuse and its lingering traumas.
12th Jan 2018 00:47am
12th Jan 2018 1:03am
Anonymous
- Edited 13th Jan 2018 8:29am
13th Jan 2018 8:28am
This one is very powerful dear Tenderloin! You have captured a serious problem in our society and the attitudes towards women who have been raped or sexually assaulted. No woman should have to explain why they are wearing a short skirt, or why wearing that short skirt means they should not be touched inappropriately, or had suggestive comments made towards them or the escalation of that which is “she was asking for it” because of what SHE did. No, she didn’t do anything wrong.
As you can see this has definitely touched a nerve with me! Very well thought out and in depth write about something that really does touch us all. Well done!
As you can see this has definitely touched a nerve with me! Very well thought out and in depth write about something that really does touch us all. Well done!
13th Jan 2018 4:35pm
The onus must be on men. I reject any claim that assault of any kind is provoked. And these men must be accountable, not the victim.
14th Jan 2018 4:44pm
This was wonderfully structured. Another issue that continues to be
swept under the proverbial rug... smh :O
swept under the proverbial rug... smh :O
23rd Jan 2018 1:06pm
your privacy, self respect and dignity are ripped away. lots of hate, lots of tears, lots of accusations but very little justice . keep writing.
