When I was a child around 10 years old I was sexually assaulted. I made a choice many years ago to stop treating it as a dirty secret. Although it had devastating impacts on my self-esteem, it created the man I am today. In the media recently there has been discussions of rape and sexual assault. In my case I was raped by a female (she was our babysitter) over a long period of time. In my view, society has a double standard when it comes to males and rape. The first time I told an adult about the assault, they asked me if the girl was hot; that shut me down for over 20 years. Feel to heal and tell to get well.

Stolen

Soft skin, curious eyes, tender touch

Wanting love; bird with a broken wing

Searching, craving, longing

Easter egg in a room of hammers

Salmon eggs in a river with no water

Quenching for tenderness in a house of fists

You saw me quivering

Stillness of nighttime

Taking hand in darkness

Walking to room with shadows

Secrets, frightened, shame

Tomorrows never the same

Couldn’t fly

Legs strong, wing broken

Covered in oil, eagle watching

Couldn’t shake

Desperate for love; No superheroes

Many sons; same story

No words, many tears

Childhood stolen, many “sorry’s”

Lost child, rainy nights

Aching, lonely, crying

Many ravens; more regrets

Hourglass turned over, you walked away

Innocence stolen

Boys shame, mothers pain, father covers face

Hand slips away

Stolen

Carl Meadows,

November 22, 2009