End the Silence Campaign

New poetry by Stefanie Jane M and LW is now posted on the Poetry page of End the Silence.  Thank you to these two women for sharing their words. Here is an excerpt:

“But secrets can do crazy things to you
They can make you want to wash the dirt off your hands
Even if you just washed them five minutes ago
Even if it hurts to wash them”

-from “Dad’s Best Friend” by LW

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the poetry, stories, and art featured on the site. You can also share your story by submitting to endthesilencecampaign@gmail.com or completing the online form.

Stay posted for more new work!

The “Art” page of End the Silence has just been updated! Check out the page to browse work by 3 new artists.

Also, new stories and poetry have been added.

I want to thank the members of the RAINN Speaker’s Bureau who were brave enough to share their stories with End the Silence. Their stories, poetry, and artwork can be found throughout the site. I hope that other readers are inspired by these words. Please feel free to leave comments for the authors.

End the Silence is still seeking new submissions of poetry, stories, and artwork. Send submissions to endthesilencecampaign@yahoo.com and let your voice be heard.

“I wanted to share something I wrote when I returned to the street where I was abducted when I was 12.  I was abducted there,  raped and beat up in a car someplace I could not see.  The man who took me did the same to 16 other girls before he was caught. It was 1976.

I wrote this as my personal declaration when I went back two years ago. I wrote it in yellow chalk on the sidewalk so it would be there forever. When rain erased it, I know part penetrated the earth and made its home there.”

- Lin

Read the poem that Lin wrote that day on the sidewalk  on the Poetry page of END THE SILENCE.

Send your poetry, prose, and art submissions to endthesilencecampaign@yahoo.com.

“In the time between the night of my assault and the night he was murdered, I lived in fear. I was afraid he was still around town. Afraid he was looking for me. Afraid he would track me down and kill me. The fear didn’t go away when he was murdered. Although he was no longer a threat, the simple life and innocence of a 14-year-old boy was gone forever. Carefree childhood thoughts replaced with the unrelenting realization that my world wasn’t a safe place. My peace shattered by a horrific criminal act of sexual violence.”

- from “Men in My Town”

Read the rest of “Men in My Town” and other stories on the Prose page. End the Silence wants your stories, poetry, and artwork. Please submit to endthesilencecampaign@yahoo.com.

“That was the longest day of my life. Not one person called me by my real name. I was beginning to get mad. Each time I said “Olivia,” I got louder and louder and angrier and angrier. By the time I left school that day, I was ready to explode. What was so hard about calling me by my real name?

Outside of school, a gang of kids was waiting for me.

“Hey Squak! Come here,” Brad yelled to me.

“My name’s not Squak, it’s Olivia,” I yelled back, continuing on my way.

I knew that if I got near enough to him I probably would have hit him so I just kept walking. I made it about half a block when I felt a hand around my arm. Whoever it was, they were alone because I saw all of the other kids leaving the schoolyard. I never felt so alone in my life.”

- excerpt from “Sticks and Stones” by Cheryl D.

Read more of Cheryl’s story and other stories of survival in the Prose and Poetry sections. And submit your story to endthesilencecampaign@yahoo.com. Together we can tell our stories and prove the importance of sharing these words.