One! Poem by Loraine Lotter

Our bodies have been bruised
Our lives ripped in parts
But no matter what happens
We stay strong in our hearts

We are children
Defenceless and young
Do you not care
when you misuse your tongue?

Or use your bodies as weapons
to get your way with us
We get blamed for everything
but why the big fuss?

Why don't you just stop
and think for a while
What will you gain
by abusing a child?

Abuse is not an answer
to every days greed
It only causes pain
and a broken child to bleed

A daughter or a son
Toddler or teen
Take back what you have done
Stop everything and see
We are ONE!