She Lives

When
you bound her
or beat her
or held her
captive
She was not to blame.

When
you took her
or shook her
she ceased to be
mother or daughter
sister or wife;

When
she built
her life anew
away
from your kingdom
you robbed her
of dignity;

When
she learned
to speak
to hear and see
to use her claws
you crushed her.

And then
she lived
breathed in pain
she lived
in her heart
she lived
in her dreams
untold
unshared
unknown.