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Srinlankan Poem about Acid Survivors
Airyn Lentija writes a powerful poem reflecting the thoughts of survivors
*VITRIOLAGE *
Airyn R. Lentija
Just as my scarred hands hold these rails
so the tiny drops
of my faith make me live, too.
I, who never asked for this blindness,
The scarring of my face and body that
erased my existence to the real world…
embarassed…
in fear of the stigma and of prejudice
that bubbles from the mouth
of the community I once belonged to.
I am a mother turned into a baby,
desperately dependent…
I am a teenager who forgets how it was to be a teenager…
I am a lively lady that used to enjoy the company of my peers…
A victim of vitriolage,
I am shunned now…
and relive the vivid memories that lift me
to another level of distress, of such agony,
that my mind almost shut down,
they called…
a psychologist for in-depth intervention,
counselors…
A brilliant mind may give a hand
to restore my damaged skin tissue;
surgical treatment…
Yet I will never be free
from the memory of such pain,
such punishment
nor will I be Me again…
This beautiful poem forms part of the article written in Sri Lankan Guardian about acid violence in Sri Lanka. The article can be read here Do you know of any other poems about acid violence? We would love to hear from you.
Posted on May 22nd 2010 by Test Member in Blog
