A VICTIM OF RAPE

My bathtub is running steaming hot. A wash cloth, a dish of soap, wondering, ' will it wash away my thoughts. I'm a victim of rape. The tears I'm shedding

won't ever stop. I'm wondering will

I ever smile again

Tomorrow I'll have my trial. The questions

When? Why? and How? I can taste the bitterness that I must face. Maybe I'll win, I have evidence, but in the end I know I'll lose. But what I lost today I can never replace. Something keeps haunting me inside, only a victim of rape would know. The trauma and memories, they just wan't fade away. Yes, I have an advocate to counsel me.

Someone who says she really understands the

pain and the agony I must face.

It all sounds pleasing right now, because

at this moment I can use a friend.

But when the lights go off, I'll still

be a victim of rape with feelings of today.

Wondering, is he still out there. Wondering,

does anyone really care.

be the next victim of Rape.

Wondering, who will

-Ramona Rawls

since I stopped propping them up,

I love my breasts

feel them when i dance, bouncing

feel with hands and arms

mine

soft round and warm

lying where the Goddess meant

i feel Her more

Metamorphosis into Bureaucrat

My hips are a desk.

From my ears hang

chains of paper clips.

Rubber bands form my hair.

My breasts are wells of mimeograph ink.

My feet bear casters.

Buzz. Click.

My head

is a badly organized file. My head is a switchboard where crossed lines crackle. My head is a wastebasket

of worn ideas. Press my fingers

and in my eyes appear

credit and debit

zing. Tinkle.

My navel is a reject button.

From my mouth issue cancelled reams.

Swollen, heavy, rectangular

I am about to be delivered

of a baby

xerox machine.

File me under W because I wonce

was

a woman.

-Marge Piercy (LNS)

POETRY

PROUD

He's a proud father

with one hand

collecting pennies in a beer can

for his 11 month old toy

and the other

shoving an address book before me.

And she-

`probably sits in the apartment

he furnished for her

planning to go places that

cpf

i

i love this body

She gave me

...Barbara Louise

Unconscious

he can go with her

or driving the car

he bought for her

(Since theirs is a common-law marriage one month ago today)

To this he grunts: "Baby, don't worry about her.

She git everythang she want!** *

She gets everythang?

She wants,

Beryl M.A. Khabeer

Page 4/What She Wants/October, 1977

Am losing center flying in directions

trying to find direction don't like it.

wanther to leave

-OT

omethin

wantwantwant

hate wants want be's be alone

--Azalea

M.Holmes