no amnesty

youth, like delicate petals,

crushed under boot

innocence lost

but something else took root

words and hands

left a lasting impression

being born

was her only transgression

though her trust and body

were both betrayed

in her heart

was born this crusade

to speak for those

who haven’t the choice

to see the truth

and give it voice

Hear this, predators:

whether stanger, “friend” or “family”

For your crimes

there will be no amnesty!

~Melanie Thomason

reblog from 2014

Aberration

as a child she was called an

aberration

she was shunned by all her

blood relations

treated like some sort of

vile mutation

yet that didn’t stop

incestuous molestation

she endured years of abuse

without deviation

¨

child grew to teen yet no help came for

the duration

so she had no real hope left of white knight style

salvation

she became increasingly aware of even strangers

condemnation

she began to exist in a state of

hibernation

a self-imposed

mental stagnation

¨

for her family there was no

vaccination

she even tried to slough them off through

exfoliation

hoping for loofah induced

decontamination

only red raw skin resulted

not purification

¨

while once again suffering under

grotesque gyrations

she came to startling

realization

there was only one way to

ensure cessation

she planned a different sort of

amputation

how many years would she serve for each

castration?

~Melanie Thomason

Reblog from 2013

*disclaimer no one was castrated (whether deserving or not) for the creation of this poem.

With words that must be said?

So a few times lately I’ve seen comments and posts about the validity of all the different Awareness of this and Prevention of that days, weeks or months…

… is it needed?  Does it matter? Is it only preaching to the choir to post these things here? Does it make a difference?

I will answer to all of the above: YES and NO!

April, as I’ve already posted about a few times now, is Child Abuse Prevention Month AND Sexual Assault Awareness Month. It is sad that these issues need months set aside to talk about them but I’m glad for whatever light can be shone.  I personally think these are issues that we should talk about all the time…until they no longer exist.  Violence against women and children haven’t gone anywhere.  Ageism, Sexism, and all the other isms haven’t gone anywhere. So yes we still need to talk about them.

Truthfully, talk alone isn’t enough.  Each of us needs to take action as well.

I shouldn’t have to tell anyone that they shouldn’t hurt other people, right?  No child should ever be abused, right?  Yet, look around.

Women and children are beaten everyday. Yes, men are abused as well and that is not ok either. It is just that the majority of the time abuse is directed at women and children, STILL, and that pisses me off.  It should piss you off too!

Rape is not a thing of the past.  It also often isn’t a stranger but someone the victim know and should be able to trust.  We shouldn’t have to tell anyone that No does not mean yes…that consent is ABSOLUTELY necessary.  That victim blaming is not acceptable and it doesn’t matter what someone is wearing!

It goes beyond that of course… not only should you not hurt people (yourself or others) or participate with those who do,  you also shouldn’t be a silent bystander.

If you cannot get personally involved (and sometimes you shouldn’t)…at the very least say something to those who can.

IF, you know someone who is being abused, speak up.

Remember, the smallest action on your part could make a life and death difference.

IF, you know someone who is an abuser, speak up.

One of the ways we can make a difference is by not accepting this behavior.  We have to let the perpetrators know this is not ok.

When friends and family turn a blind eye this makes both the abuser and the abused feel that what is happening is acceptable.  Break the cycle.  Educate yourself and please educate your children.

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” -Edmund Burke

 

~Melanie Thomason

 

 

 

Consent

 

No does not mean Yes

images from Pixabay

neither forgiven nor forgotten

Image from Pixabay

 

I do not believe I’m stronger for what I’ve gone through

I do not believe that pain and suffering build character

I know that I innately had character

and I know that I was strong to have survived

•

I’ve neither forgiven nor forgotten

that just doesn’t work for me

forgiveness has to be earned

and to forget would be stupid

don’t try to tell me otherwise

•

I don’t know if time really heals

I’m still waiting on that

but I can tell you that distance helps

as does cutting toxic people from your life

•

I’m still strong and I am a good person

in spite of, not because of them

and though I have moved on

and tried to bury my past

my ghosts are still breathing

•

~Melanie Thomason

Reblog from 2016

Reminder: April is Child Abuse Prevention Month & Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Jillian

 

For a brief moment, she stared into his eyes, a piercing Robin’s egg blue even in the dim streetlight.  She wondered how it was she found herself holding a switchblade against this man’s jugular vein.  Jillian knew there was no time to hesitate and so she made one quick, deep cut.

She wasn’t a violent person but she did what she had to do under pressure.  After all if one of them was going to die, today was not her day.  She still couldn’t believe she had been so careless as to let this man come so close to doing her harm. Yes, he had appeared gaunt and homeless, but she knew better than to discount anyone.  She had stopped to give him a couple dollars and then walked on without giving any thought to him behind her.   Never gave any thought that he might want rob her or that he might be compelled by lower, baser needs.  His looks had thrown her off but he had proven much more spry and strong than she could have imagined.  Before she knew what was happening he had grabbed her from behind, his arms surrounding her.  She had instinctively stomped on his foot and jerked her head back to bash him in the nose. That had allowed her to get free for a moment but before she could run away he was back on her overpowering her. He was hitting her and ripping at her clothes, making his intentions all too clear.  He hadn’t given up… and Jillian knew now that he was bigger and stronger than her.  As she felt him against her flesh she knew that a weapon was her only chance and so she had pulled the knife from her pocket.  Her friend’s voice echoed in her head “Don’t brandish your knife; only pull it if you intend to use it.”

Now that he was no longer a threat she pulled her tattered clothes around herself and her phone from her pocket and called 911.

~Melanie Thomason

04/08/2020