The Woman & the Four-Letter Word

One of the hardest parts of surviving rape and sexual assault, for many, is being able to say the word "rape." This is a poem about what happens when society at large refuses to use this legal term to discuss crimes that are committed against millions of people.

Transcript

The spectacle was spectacular.

The shine was on the sun.

The parasol and hot balloon had arrived to see the fun.

From the wilds of Asia-Afrope,

The explorers in Helmets Pith marched upon the grassy square proudly bringing with the blue and orange and purple spotted sixteen-footed schnope.

Discovered by a daring man suspended by a rope hanging off the highest cliff above the deepest gorge.

Over bubbling lava.

I tell you,

It was hotter than a forge.

At least that's how they build it and what the posters read.

What they presented proudly was something else instead.

Indeed,

The thing was remarkable.

Brave by fate and choice.

No matter who it came upon,

It always used its voice.

But the explorers of Asia-Afrope,

Though they let it say its piece,

Described the schnope's own words by hiding them in fleece.

In fact,

There was no schnope at all.

Just a woman and a four-letter word.

Worse than love and worse than hate that others had already heard.

No matter what the explorers said the four-letter word was instead.

No matter how many layers of fleece were thrown upon its head.

The grassy square and the sunny sun are all quite good and well inviting all the hot ballooners in crowds that often swell.

And in those crowds are others.

Real.

Like you and me.

Shown by the explorers of Asia-Afrope.

The schnopes we all should be.

All this fuss and banner waving to hide a four-letter word.

The fleece to hide what millions know and millions have already heard.

Here's to all who have been schnoped for saying what rhymes with cape.

For throwing off the fleece.

Not afraid ever to say rape.

Reviews

Reading in your ‘about’ section the trauma of your past makes me sad this happened to you. Glad I am however that you could rise like the Phoenix from the ashes to harness your immense talent. Thank you. I am holding you in a hug from my heart.

Powerful and moving . Your poetry is amazing and brought back a memory of when I was a teen .. I never told anyone and blocked it and buried it . Thank you for this . Date rape still happens in high school and college ..and I am proud I taught my daughters to share with me everything. My younger daughter helped a friend by sharing what she was experiencing when she was in 6th grade. The police were involved and she was rescued from the stepfathers friends abuse . I hope this gets shared in schools and libraries. It’s so important! 💜☮️🪷

Thank you so much for your meditations and for empowering us to heal and end this violent crime.

Thank you for doing this. I do have a question. Why did you describe this poem as science when it's about a mythical creature? I thought the point of your poem was to say "rape" without describing it as something else.