Your Voice
Dancing in the Darkness

Dancing in the darkness…
     slowly moving, creeping silently toward the light
          leaving the shadows of shame behind.
Remembering no more the pain of you
     --invading my space,
          defiling my innocence,
     crushing my spirit.
The flashbacks still haunt me…
     I am sickened by the smell of your sweat
          as the child inside me dies.
Stronger now, I lift up my head
     rising above the fear,
          knowing I am worthy of like and love.
Like a caged bird set free, I fly.
     soaring toward the light, the hope, the promise
          of survivorship and a new day.

-Keisha Hallie Woods