© 2019 Barbara Grace Lake
This is not a personal experience but an imagining from the anguish of many with whom I have spoken. It is a blot on humanity that must be stopped. The terrorism of young children must stop. We need to do a better job of warning children about “funny uncles” or anyone else who touches them inappropriately. Let them know it is very OK to “tattle” on that person.
A child she was, so innocent
Clear eyes, sun brightened, rosy cheeks
Her pony tails in ribbons shone
Diminutive, sweet elf turned six
Delighted having fun with friends
Today ice cream and chocolate cake
Her Uncle Tom as silly clown
Beguiled young partiers for hours
Caressing every child he gave
Absurd balloon-made animals
“Tom’s always good to entertain
He loves wee tykes so very much”
That night when checking on the child
His words of love awakened her
He whispered, “Let me show my love
But this must always secret be”
And then his knife-hard penis stabbed
Her pain, her terror screams he choked
When done he cleaned her, changed her bed
And left no clue that she’d been touched
Each night when he would come again
She’d be too frightened now to cry
Nor tell her aunt or anyone
About her fear — her secret shame
May 14, 2019 at 4:45 pm
Oh dear G-d. I hope this wasn’t you. If it was, I’m so very sorry for the abuse and trauma you suffered and had to endure as a child. Such a powerful depiction of the brutality of child rape. Thank you for sharing. 40 years after I was raped I went to a therapist and finally discussed it. She told me to write a letter to my rapist. I did. It turned out to be an excellent way to empower me and chase away the demons stuck deep inside my memories. The therapist now uses my letter and reads it to other survivors. I have a feeling that Your poem unleashed your demons as well.
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May 14, 2019 at 5:57 pm
No, dear friend. I assure you this wasn’t me. I have talked to many survivors of child rape, while I was working on a story about multiple personality disorder, never published because the topic was considered, basically, too “hot to handle.” But if the voice was accurate, then it was for those dear, wonderful women who had courage enough to speak with me. Thank you for caring enough to read, understand and comment.
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May 14, 2019 at 4:46 pm
A painful reality of far too many of our children.
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May 14, 2019 at 5:58 pm
Yes it is, dear Rosaliene. It is time we ended it. A slap on the wrist for perpetrators just isn’t going to be sufficient any longer.
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May 14, 2019 at 5:10 pm
what a horrible reality for too many……
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May 14, 2019 at 5:59 pm
Yes it is. We need to find ways, harsher sentences, more information (as much as they can handle) to protect them for these vultures. Thank you for caring.
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May 14, 2019 at 6:55 pm
I completely agree with you Barbara! God bless you.
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May 14, 2019 at 5:14 pm
Such bravery in writing this Barbara, whether it was you or anyone else. So well written. There is something that I want to write on these lines, but never did. I may do now. Thankyou for writing it Barbara
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May 14, 2019 at 6:01 pm
The brave ones, my dear friend, are the ones who told me their stories. If I was accurate, then it was for them. Thank you so much for caring.
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May 15, 2019 at 10:14 am
Barbara, thank you for writing this. It’s exceptionally penned. It would be wonderful if society actually did something to severely punish those who commit rape. Especially raping children.
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May 15, 2019 at 5:38 pm
Thank you so much for reading, understanding and caring about a severe problem afflicting our society. I appreciate you and your work more than I can truly say.
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May 17, 2019 at 5:53 pm
one of my friends always made sure she was home after work and didnt leave her daughter (youngest of 5 kids) at home by herself – all the way until her daughter left for college. i always admired her for being a great protective mom. she understood the possible danger of visiting male relatives to her home.
thanks for writing this! 💟 very well penned
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May 18, 2019 at 12:58 am
Thank you for your comments. I agree with your friend. There are far too many “funny uncles” around, and we must protect our children, both the girls and the boys. I don’t mean by smothering them, but by being there, spending quality time with them, letting them know they are valuable and do not have to allow anyone to touch them. I applaud your friend for her selflessness.
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June 19, 2019 at 2:06 pm
For a second there I thought it’s a true story..Great narrative and it relates to real life happenings, there’s paedophiles everywhere you can’t trust a soul.. Really sad
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June 19, 2019 at 10:53 pm
If you thought it was true, dear friend, it is the truth coming out from dozens of women I talked with who had been raped in similar circumstances while they were young. And it isn’t so much that we can’t trust anyone, but we must always be aware and make sure our children tell us If someone touches them inappropriately, be that person a Scout leader, an uncle the child for some reason felt uncomfortable around, or one who always wanted to see his dear niece. We must be aware be it priest, child counselor, youth leader in any religious setting, anyone who has our children in a situation and who seems to demand loyalty above and beyond that due his title or rank. Above all we must listen to our children. A good friend lost his 18-month-old son because he didn’t see the signs of increased agitation, increased illness every time they went out and left my friend’s brother-in-law in charge. He thought his son was simply shy because he wouldn’t go to the uncle when they were all together. Finally they came home from an outing and found the child comatose with bruises all over his little body. The child died, the uncle was arrested, tried and convicted, but that did not bring back my friend’s son. The reasons came out in court: the uncle had 2 daughters and was envious even angry that my friend had a son. The reasons are all different. The result is always the same, a betrayal of trust and a devastating loss of young life and/or youthful innocence.
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June 26, 2019 at 12:17 am
Very very sad & good of you to remind folks. My hope is that we’re becoming more aware these days
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