Poetry By Survivors
Dec 10, 2010 by Sarah Chatfield
Support groups are a unique opportunity for healing among other survivors. Experiencing things like child sexual abuse and sexual assault are traumatic, life changing events and support groups are an additional avenue for survivors to heal by sharing, listening, and most importantly, knowing that they are not alone.
Several different support groups take place at The Cottage each week. In the past few weeks two particular groups have come to an end. The Non-Offending Caregivers Support Group has been an on-going group in 2010, facilitated by Lori Karr. The group is not meeting in December but will start back again in 2011. The Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse Support Group was a 9 week group that was facilitated by Sarah Chatfield. This group runs at least once a year. If you are interested in either group you can contact the group facilitators.
Both groups ended their time together by writing a “group poem”. Each group came up with their theme and title and each member contributed lines, only able to see the line directly above where they were to write. As happens each time we’ve done this with a group, the poem is read at the end in its entirety, with all voices coming together for one powerful poem. Read each poem below.
Survivor’s Thoughts on Hope
Non-Offending Caregivers Support Group 2010
I will rise up and speak out.
Hope is the reason to move forward- to not get stuck in the negatives and look to the positive.
Life isn’t about how you survived the storm-it is about how you danced in the rain.
Hope is at the end of the rainbow but a storm sometimes comes first.
Hope is the light inside you that is always there and no one can take it away.
Shame I know your name.
Hope is the gift given by God to his children to endure the challenges and tests.
Hope often becomes reality.
A New Beginning
By Ricky, Rachel and Cheryl
Fall 2010
Parting is such sweet sorrow
On the verge of a new tomorrow
The sun is setting, this day is coming to an end
I’ve learned some lessons and now I’m on the mend
Daily prayers of peace and hope are just around the bend
My mind, my heart, my spirits are screaming victory
I’m ready to live; self love is no longer a mystery
Soon anxiety, anger and depression will be history
A new day, a new dawn, a new beginning.