Comfort Women
by Grace Baldisseri
Your wartime story had transformed my life
From an actor to a V-Warrior tonight
How could I not listen to your woes
Raped, beaten and mouths taped with gauze
How could anyone survive such violence
Drugged, slapped, twisted, devoured in silence
You are brave enough to tell us your story
Comfort women, you are amazing to me
I commit to stop this violence for life
Until everyone joins this meaningful fight
Let us stop violence against women and girls
After all, women are more precious than pearls
(Ed’s Note: The author is a New York-based poet and journalist who is of Ibanag descent in the northern Philippines. Her poem is part of her book Rhythms from the Heart published in 2011.
Featured photo is a painting by Ivabelle Bernabe ‘Woman’)
