Survivor’s song

i  am not a victim i am a survivor

i overcame i did not succumb

from fear of the dark

to fear of the gun

it was not about the violence

it was the way in which you othered me

now let us be clear

this is not the place for sympathy 

but empathy is the residue

that trauma leaves behind

you gave me this power, stranger

and all that matters now

is what you left me with

a single voice choir

that will echo forever