Paper Bed

This one is for all those out there who
lay there
bleeding
burning
bruised
torn
ashamed

This one is for those who
were examined
like specimen
sobbing
labile
fighting the impulse to run

This is for those who
waited too long
avoided the inevitable
in shock
numb

This is for those who
were asked if they were sexually assaulted
while being slut-shamed

This is for all those who out there
stared at the ceiling
feared that lobby
floated through the hallways
contracted to preying metal

This one is for all those who out there
fought the screams
the laughs
the cries
at those pamphlets
at all the non-safe places

This is for all those out there
who held it until their car
or the hallway
then collapsed to the floor

This is for all those out there
who went to work
who got empty flowers
who hid their pain

This is for all those out there
who said nothing
who told no one
who still hold it in their souls

This one is for all those out there
who still fear it
those visits
their reactions
trying to move on

This one is for all those out there
who were told
they should have been referred
to social work
to someone
anyone

This is for all those
whose families didn't get it
until this piece was told
who heard
I wish I was there
But they weren't

This is for all the ones
for whom it was just you
surviving
breathing
legs wide open
lights overhead glaring
swallowing

This is for all those
who lay there
like too many before
like too many after

This one is for all those out there
who lay there
alone on that paper bed.