You told us no-one
would ever love us
like You did.
We hope that is true
because Your love leaves us
black-and-blue
even though You see us as gold-and-white.
But.
We are not a dress the world
can try to persuade itself is a certain color.
We are victims of abuse
that cannot be placed in a box
of Your choosing.
You cannot say our silence was agreement
or our clothes were a nonverbal signal
that “we deserved to be punished.”
The idea that once consent is given
it cannot be taken away is invalid.
We will not allow You to justify
Your actions by what we did
or did not do.
Your actions were Yours alone
and You cannot place Your crime
at our feet and beg us to take it from You.
We will not take it.
Do you hear us?
We will not take it.