The Hidden Agenda

Hiding sorrow She cried in silence Her scars too thick to heal She hid inside her loneliness There is no one to share her story with Because the monster she is hiding from is her own husband Her society is harbouring a string of similar stories Women all across the world are facing such terrifying ordeals Face to face with terror, hidden from view The origin of this hidden agenda is unknown The manuscript of this crime is horrendous Gender-based violence is a scourge beyond one woman Its venom is paralyzing women across the global village Its sting has left many orphans Women left their homes ajar Fleeing has never been an option But the pain is unbearable Drugs and alcohol abuse cannot help What can one woman do? When all women are terrified We cannot even begin to see the extent of their trauma It is totally hidden from our eyes Yet, it is found almost in every home This is a call for women and men To lift the curtain of silence And confront this monster Let us all stop gender-based violence ©Kenneth Maswabi