She Hears by Terri Lanahan

I grew up in a home where there was Domestic Violence and I write this poem. She Hears She hears the same sounds every night.She’s afraid of the dark and prays for the light.She’s alone and really scared.She wishes that somebody cared.She watches mommy and daddy with tear-filled eyes.She wants them to hear her cries.She […]

Untitled by David Carey

My father died when I was 14. Shortly afterward I was seeing my family doctor for anxiety. He sexually abused me, although my recollections didn’t surface for about 30 years. He would hypnotize me to not remember what happened in each session. About the Creator David Carey I worked with computers for my career and […]

Recovering by Chris Kontopidis

Recovering is a short thriller about a young queer protagonist who shifts bodies, discovering loss and healing in the aftermath of long term traumatic events. The story is parable, in addition to being a literal thriller. There are three phases, the inner child, the physical present, and the soul, which all meet with a disappearance, where the protagonist attempts to […]

My Hummingbird Sings by Nancy V Brown

I hear the sweet sound of joy radiating from the shimmer that’s at the tip of my wingsMy hummingbird is a beautiful reflection of the joy that he bringsOn my times of panic, I pressed on the power that lies deep withinAllowing the tests of times and the trials, not to winBeautiful reflections of love […]

Survivor Voices 2020 by Beth Seigling

The above collage was created based on the 2020 Survivor Voices writing series with Donna Jenson of Time to Tell, an organization that helps survivors of incest and sexual abuse to write and share their stories in a healing way.

Virtual Virtue (from “UNPLUGGED: A Survivor’s Story in Scenes & Songs”)

In the song “Virtual Virtue,” Dayna Clay describes her childhood rape — and her determination to survive it. Lyrics: I used to dream that you’d become the dad I never hadSomeone who’d look after me, come through when times were badA man to guard my mother’s heart, complete our familyBut you were only using her […]

Graffiti on a Girl by Lisa Marie Carter

I tried to give them shelter, I invited them all inside. I sent out the invitations, “Come one, come all”; no pride. I never asked for rent, not once; a drink at most would do. I’d then hand them the keys to the kingdom, to do with what they wished to do. What once was […]

I’m a museum embroiderer, along w some other work that I do, who has been living from one brain injury to another beginning at age 2

I am a museum embroiderer. The pictures that are shown are a small part of my gallery. How this talent came to me, I do not know. I just go with the flow. Whatever pops in my head comes out with my thread work. I am also still able to do other forms of art. […]

It Knows by Naomi

My body knows a pain within,it draws it out upon my skin. Upon my wrists I’m forced to see,how hard the ropes have pulled on me.The red marks on my knee they label,how pressure burns pressed on a table. Redness on my thighs submit,a full-grown man just won’t fit.That shooting pain within my clit,knows where […]

Breathe by Gloryfied

Dandelion seeds and lavender.. Breathe in.. Breathe out.. You are moving.. You are healing.. You are working through this process we call recovery. Keep breathing. Keep moving…

Category Archives: Survivors Speak arts blog