I have been silenced for so long

I do not know my own voice

All I hear

Are your words. 

Your condemnations

Your judgements

Your lies. 

I see your glance

Haughty

Better than everyone else.  

Only

You aren’t.  

You are hiding behind fear

That controls you

And all you do

Keeping me in check 

mate

In case I discover my voice

And use it 

Against you

You who have held me hostage for so many years

I, believing

No more.  

D.R.H.

Copyright Donna R. Hedges 2021