Know the Facts

All information from http://www.rainn.org/statistics if you or someone you know is a victim of rape, assault, incest please call 1.800.656.HOPE or visit www.rainn.org/get-help/

Your sister

Your mother

I bet have a secret

And no one can know

Because they have to keep it

Hidden and hiding

From the rest of the world

Because I bet you didn’t know

300,000 rape victims are girls

And 44% are under eighteen

So that girl in your class

Has a secret unseen

And 80% are under age thirty

But I bet they won’t tell

They feel worthless and dirty

And what would you say if you possibly knew?

Not much to be said, not much you could do

But see it happens so often, it’s barely a crime!

Ninety seven percent won’t ever do time

And only 54% have been reported

That leaves 46% who have not been sorted

So think about that, maybe it’s someone to you

A friend, a coach, a teacher, its true!

In fact 2/3 of the time it’s someone known

Someone you trust, as close as your home

And 38% of the time it’s a friend or less

Yes, the person you thought had loved you best

Every two minutes, in the U. S of A

Someone is assaulted in such a way

Now here’s something shocking, the FBI

The good guys, the heroes, the ones on your side

Define it as “The carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will.”

Now that leaves out so much more still

What about anal, oral and statutory rape;

And so many more don’t get the yellow tape

Here’s the worst part, men don’t get a say

Read that again, men won’t get away

See it affects women mostly, but guys are too

Over 90,000 are told this every year to be true

Our country makes rape seem normal, okay

Because if you do it, live through it, you’ll get away

And the victim is left with the memory

Of disrespect and worthlessness you can’t un-see

So know the facts and know what’s right

Don’t walk alone, especially in night

Learn self-defense, and keep yourself protected

We really shouldn’t need to, but reality can’t be neglected

And I know it sucks now, but please be aware

Of the world we live in, because the rest of us care. 

Reviews

[Power Knows the Truth A..]

Hi Alyssa! Really beautifully done piece. The juxtaposition of a sing-songy rhyme scheme with such a heavy topic make it almost creepy to read. I see it also contributing to the feeling of how normalised rape/sexual assault are in society. I would have liked to see this dig in a bit more into the gender dynamics that make gender violence so prevalent. Yet, there's only so much that can be done in a poem. Excellent work!