EMPOWER Malaysia organised a writing competition to encourage the wider public to "Break the Silence", for themselves & others. This is one of the top entries, written by Jamie Tanz.
Bells are rung and she is awakened
A daughter at ten, and wife at eleven
Her cheeks are bruised, scarred and dampened Born an encumbrance, raised for obedience
These tainted years like the scarlet letter Engraved into her, bright red and bold They’ll eat her away as the years shatter Until the day she’s grey and old
Twenty-three in every minute
Anomaly practiced in ubiquity
Joined together in matrimony
Yet worlds apart in age disparity
‘tis her nightmare and reality
A nightmare set for eternity
Her fate is sealed, a life predestined
‘X’ a stroke more and it's determined
An existence, marginal and secondary Pinned down, blade out, no
autonomy
The condoning of criminal behaviour
All in the name of a savior
"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet" Tragedy in the guise of
sanctity
Covered or not, all comes to naught
Depraved transgression set to default Violation of sorts ordered and
sought
A mother slain, a sister bought
No reasoning, no humanity
'tis but a weapon of guts and crimson glory
Beware of the wolves that's come to prey No need of full moon, it is any
day
Look here, it's there, be watchful if you may A vindictive heart to make
sure you pay
Echoed through the years, justified malevolence Reasonings for vice, a
cloche-served credence Her secondary existence, replaceable in seconds Her
cries answered but with apathy and silence 'tis the hour has come for purposed
defiance
We end this chain of violence by fighting and breaking the silence