My Community -Rough Draft

There are too many people in my community
who know the feeling of an unwanted touch
that gut wrenching, tear inducing, this can't be real, I-Just-Have-To-Find-My-Ruby-Red-Slippers-So-I-Can-Go-Home touch

There are too many people in my community
Who cannot name their pain nor lay its blame at the appropriate door

There are too many people in my community
Who cannot bear the label "victim" because it doesn't sit well with "strong" or "activist"

There are too many people in my community
Lost, Broken and Bruised by violence

There are too many people in my community
who hears hushed whispers of "assault" and "abuse"
and cannot, will not, do not yell "This shall not stand"

There are too many people in my community
Who perpetrate these crimes