You can’t quiet me anymore

You didn’t hear me because you shut me down like the TV on mute.

Nothing I said mattered to you, so you didn’t listen to me because you didn’t care.

And so, I grew quiet out of fear. If you heard me, you would hurt me.

But you didn’t even see me, let alone hear me, because I didn’t matter.

I was nothing; I was invisible until one day I screamed, and then you heard me, saw me, and couldn’t ignore me anymore.

For I was strong, I had found my voice, and this time, I wasn’t going to hide or care if you were scared.

I am here to stay, and there is no going back to that little girl who was bullied and treated as if she didn’t matter.

I am a woman now, and I stand up for myself, and your words have no meaning now.

That’s why I stand up on my own, but I’m never alone, and this voice is like a radio station; it never goes out until it wants to.

Written By: Deirdre Stokes Copyrighted ©️ 2023 By Deirdre Stokes