Unknown Girl
Busy office mid the traffic roar. My
phone has shrilled a dozen times before. Now
a girl is crying down the line, keeps crying,
crying all the time. “Don't speak, just hear. I've
taken pills but feel no fear. I random-
dialled, need someone there, unseen confessor
for my prayer, a ghost to know the reason
why, at seventeen I chose to die. When
mother went I was alone – though he was
there, so life and body not my own. I've
run away but no escape. He traces
me and then the rape. He gets a key and
wakes me in the dead of night. He beats me
when I say, ‘I'll tell,’ or makes to mark me
with a knife. It's living hell, devalued
life. His friends, he says, fill every place from
law and health to Women's Aid. I see a
spy in every face. I can't seek help I'm
too afraid. My very soul must bear the
brand of his misuse and yet I feel I've
no excuse. If God absolves me from all
blame why do I feel this dreadful shame? It's
so unjust! My life's debased by this man's
lust. He won't have me anymore, just find
me lying on the floor...” Leaves me with an
empty line, crying, crying all the time.
phone has shrilled a dozen times before. Now
a girl is crying down the line, keeps crying,
crying all the time. “Don't speak, just hear. I've
taken pills but feel no fear. I random-
dialled, need someone there, unseen confessor
for my prayer, a ghost to know the reason
why, at seventeen I chose to die. When
mother went I was alone – though he was
there, so life and body not my own. I've
run away but no escape. He traces
me and then the rape. He gets a key and
wakes me in the dead of night. He beats me
when I say, ‘I'll tell,’ or makes to mark me
with a knife. It's living hell, devalued
life. His friends, he says, fill every place from
law and health to Women's Aid. I see a
spy in every face. I can't seek help I'm
too afraid. My very soul must bear the
brand of his misuse and yet I feel I've
no excuse. If God absolves me from all
blame why do I feel this dreadful shame? It's
so unjust! My life's debased by this man's
lust. He won't have me anymore, just find
me lying on the floor...” Leaves me with an
empty line, crying, crying all the time.
