gemmashannon1992
Dear Readers,
The poem you are about to read, A Duty To Speak, is incredibly close to my heart because it is born entirely from a true experience.
One evening, after finishing my shift at Barter Books-the lovely café nestled inside the old converted Victorian railway station-I stepped out to catch my usual bus home. What should have been a routine journey turned into an evening I will never forget. While waiting at the station, I witnessed a vulnerable young schoolboy being subjected to deeply uncomfortable and inappropriate behavior by a heavily intoxicated woman. What shocked and distressed me just as much as her actions was the reaction of those around us-the bystanders who chose to look away, and even those who laughed.
I knew I couldn't just stand by. Thanks to a brilliant, furious bus driver who understood the gravity of the situation, we managed to intervene and get the boy to safety.
I wrote this poem to process that night, but more importantly, to give a voice to that quiet schoolboy and to highlight a vital truth: we all have a responsibility to look out for one another. I hope it resonates with you and serves as a gentle reminder of why we must never choose silence when someone is in need of help.
Thank you, as always, for reading.
Warmest wishes,
Gemma