NO ONE SPOKE

Me: How did I get here?

Universe:  No One Spoke!

A house is not always a home, 

A home is not always a house, 

A right society is not always right

And right is not always enough….

~ Ange Kelly

This is the place he raised me, while I raised our son. 

This is where I lived. 

No power, no running water, no neighbours. 

This is where I married him. 

This is where I first truly defied him by going back to school. 

This is where I learnt how you valued me. 

This is where No One Spoke. 

It wasn't; he wasn't, the first nor the last….

but it was the beginning of the end.

This is the house I built, the land I found.

This is the dream with its white picket fence.

The sweet yellow nursery. The seed of a plant.

Now I paid tax, now I worked corporate. 

Now you would value me. But….

Still No One Spoke. Not until after.

“I heard her screams” the neighbours said

“We were very concerned” the officials said

“We thought he would kill her,” the worker said

It's been 15 years today since I ran.

Recently friends took this picture for me

That seed. It's now a tree.

That house is now a loved home

Love always outlasts hate.

There is no 3rd House for me.

Not because I don't have a home 

But because I have so many

Now my home is wherever my friends are

Wherever my children are. 

Wherever my neighbours, community and church are.

 

Now I'm not waiting to be valued because I already know I am

No I'm not waiting for you to speak for me for now I can speak for myself.

and

For you if you need, 

For anyone seeking refugee from hatred, violence, sexual abuse, fear, discrimination, torture, hardship, suffering or unimaginable pain. 

For you I will always speak.