POETRY: Vote of thanks

We’ve been alone, crying in the dark
We’ve been saddened so much by things in our past
Our souls have been broken for so long
We’ve been waiting for someone to help us speak out
Someone to ignite the spark, fan the flames and shine some light,
Thank God that today has arrived,
We’ve been praying that God would deliver us from this atrocious crime
Now, we’re really feeling this positive vibe
We’ve enjoyed every turn
Even the bumps and bruises of the cross country bus ride
From Roseau and Marigot to the town of Portsmouth
Everyone needs to hear our shout
We thank you for taking this message
Out from the documents and files,
Taking dust on the office shelves
We thank you for removing it
From the boardrooms and offices in the Ministry
Spreading the word to every nook and cranny,
Across the majestic Waitukubuli
From “within De Crevice” of Dubique
To the back roads of the Kalinago Territory
From Salisbury and even Delices
From Clifton in the North
To Grand Bay down South
Everyone needs to hear our stories
Sing the punch line one more time
It should never hurt to be a child
Let them know we’ve turned a new page
That we’re ready to take the grand stage
No longer will we keep silent
Not when the future our children is at stake
We no longer feel threatened
Not by the filthy touch or the hush money
All the perpetrators should now be in a state of worry
We thank you for giving us this platform
To shout out that enough is enough
It’s time to reset the clock
A new day is on the horizon
I hope Waitukubuli is ready for the voice of empowered children
Informed of our rights and ready to take up our responsibilities
To speak for those who are too frightened to point a finger at the abuser
Let them know there’s no excuse for child abuse
And so we thank you in advance
Because we expect you to move forward with all the plans
Those that have been developed time and time again
We need them to be implemented
We need to relieve our children from the abuser’s strain
We look to the future with a glimmer of hope in our eye
That things will get better, that our future will be bright
So we thank you one more time
That this day, the 6th of December 2013
Will forever be remembered as the day we saved Dominica’s children

AUTHOR’S NOTE: This poem was written especially to be read at the Break the Silence project launch at Portsmouth on December 6th, 2013. It was part of the awareness campaign by the Welfare Division and various partners in relation to Child Abuse and more specifically Child Sexual Abuse.

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1 Comment

  1. friend
    December 9, 2013

    Great job Delroy Nesta Williams :) – it is indeed time that we break the shackles of child abuse!

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