What Would You Do

Our bodies carry scars you cannot see, 
From acts of violence we could not foresee, 
If we told you our stories, what would you do? 
Our silence is mistaken for compliance, 
Like it gives you a license, 
If we told you what happened, what would you do? 
That night blotted out the stars, 
Left our bodies with memories like invisible scars, 
If we showed you our wounds, what would you do? 
You thought you could take what is outright obviously ours, 
Make us into cowards, 
If we told you that wasn’t true, what would you do? 
The objectivity of our bodies, 
That is what you embody, 
If we told you, you don’t have the power, what would you do? 
We’re fighting back against this grievance, 
Our bodies are not a convenience, 
If we told our stories, what would you do?
Masking your violence with words of crafted concern, 
Letting our stories burn,
If we asked you to look, what would you do? 
We’re putting our hearts out onto display,
Our scars rise to the surface, but you look away.

By Ellie O