Sunsets and Larks

an autobiographical acrostic to raise awareness

By R.C. TaylorPublished 2 years ago • 1 min read

Sun rises and sets, a beautiful view (staring at the sun too long hurts your ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀eyes, did you know?)

I didn’t know the bath games were wrong. (I didn’t.)

Larks hang by the pool, flying gracefully from our dog (he bit me in the ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀face one day and got put down.)

Every time I pee it burns (I don’t know why I didn't tell that one officer.)

Now we have many friends and play in Dragonfly Lady's attic (my best said ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀maybe my dad hit us because my skin is dirty. she's white.)

Course after that was when he stole us away to Canada. (I don’t know why ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀I didn't tell that one officer.)

E ven today I still ask myself: why didn't anyone protect me? (why didn't I ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀protect me?)

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This poem is an entry to Vocal's acrostic challenge:

Resources for Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse:

Resources for Domestic Violence:

Need a palette cleanser after those heavy topics? Check out other entries of mine!

I write to invoke, to process, to honor, to resurrect, and—sometimes—to grieve but, above all, I write to be free.

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