A Toast

 

Here’s to the shy one

The one who sits in the corner

Full of ideas and opinions and words

That never see the light of day

Fear of rejections keeps everything locked inside.

Here’s to the quiet one

The one beaten into submission

By an intolerant world hellbent on keeping her down

The one who believes she has nothing worth saying

Because she thinks differently.

Here’s to the voiceless one

Who is drowned out in all of the noise

Of too many people shouting just to be heard

The one who has lost herself in the chaos

Because she will never be loud enough.

Here’s to the one with tears

Streaming down her face

The one who’s heard one word too many

From those who think they know better

Telling her what to think and do

But never hearing the screams locked inside.

Here’s to all these voices

Silenced by the weight of all the words

They never dared to say

The ones crying in the night

Begging just to be heard.

Rachael Collins