NO one wanted to listen. 

No one even cared. 

I tried to explain that every night when I'm asleep there's
cold hands under my sheets. 
My mother said girl it's all a dream. 

My mother's new boy friend is always to nice after all day
of drinking he likes for me to sit on his lap when I refused
he slapped my face. 

As I slept through the night again cold hands are under my
sheets but this time I felt them moving up my legs, I'm
scared and I didn't understand. 

Again no one wanted to listen. And no one even cared.
The next morning right before school I tried to tell my
mother about the cold hands under my sheets and this time
their hands was rubbing my legs. 

My mother said girl I told you its just a dream and hurry up
your gonna be later for school. I rushed to eat my cereal
and drink my milk. I kissed my mother and said I love you.
On my way pass my mother's new boy friend he asked don't I
get a kiss too, i leaned in close towards his cheek  he
quickly turned facing me so our lips can meet. 


Today in school my best friend tiffany wrote a poem called.
While I was sleep. I didn't mean to read it but the paper
was right in front of me, it had things in there that was
happening to me. My friend Tiffany snatched the paper from
my hands as tears quickly filled her eyes and now running
down her cheeks, please don't tell no one my mama would just
beat me again. I promised to keep her secret.


Again after dinner I tried to tell my mother that when I'm
sleep that cold hands are under my sheets, she said please
Dawn, I don't wanna hear it eat and just go to bed.

I tried to fight my sleep but every time I blinked  my eyes
it got harder to open them again, as I slept I can felt the
cold hands. But this time its moving pass my thighs I 
fought bravely at the age of ten. But I lost. 

He forced my legs open then entered with such rage. One hand
over my mouth to silents my mumbling cries and the other one
caressing my premature breast, after he was done he
whispered in my ear (THIS IS OUR SECRET AND DON'T YOU TELL
NO ONE) the pain was so intense that I couldn't speak, he
made me promise. And I did.

The next morning I was scared to move my sheets was stained 
with sweat, blood and tears. My mother came to get me out of
bed as she always do. I didn't go back to sleep I was scared
he would come again. 

My mother pulled the sheets from over my head straight down
pass my feet and right in the middle of (IT'S TIME FOR
SCHOOL) she stopped. 

My mother eyes turned red and tears flowed from them very
quickly. I didn't have to speak because she knew what had
happen. 

I wanted my mother to stab him, shot him, poison him, or hit
him with her car I wanted her to take something away from
him that he can't never get back, but she didn't.

Instead she grabbed me by my arm and threw me to the floor.
Shouting at me your a whore, she said you just don't wanna
see me with a good man. She snatch the sheets from my bed
and shoved them into a plastic bag. She said if you ever
tell anyone I'm gonna beat your ass. 

Three years went by and once again my bed have grown cold. I
hated my life i relived this nightmare over and over again
for years.  When he was done he whispered in my ear (THIS IS
OUR SECRET AND DON'T YOU TELL NO ONE)


I never told no one, not family, not friends, a secret I
kept hidden for so long I forgot about it even after the
baby was born. 



          (TRUE STORY MADE INTO A POEM)