By Alicia Taylor
PROMPT — The way I see it ...
When I look at her
I see for real, anguish and comfort
I see me when I look at her
And I wonder
When she see’s me
Does she actually see her?
When I see the girl whose innocence has been penetrated
By a disease of evil so cunningly delegated
By those with no conscience, by the memories that haunt us
Confronted, when I look at her and I see me
by someone who knows the whole story
A girl made of words left speechless, that’s finally free
Do they understand, even a shred, a trace?
When I tell my story until red in the face
The world looks at me, all defenses lost
How can I explain, the terror that once reined
It's such a disgrace, yet when I look at her face
I see what the rest can never truly know
The words elude and trail away, tears will show
So much trapped inside I cannot say
When I look at her, I see the truth,
sadly of those passed on And those to come.
Yes, especially our youth.
Horrific comfort, Yearn to accept in dismay
The pain the hurt, to expose is to heal
corruption and justice simultaneously
when I look at her I accept what I feel
the need to speak lessens and I am less threatened
I don’t know her but I know she knows me
When I look at her, The words stop crying, together, no jealousy
The story of survival bares words that are raw,
When I look at her the words frozen until thaw
Alicia Taylor was born to the beautiful ugliness of Northern Manitoba. She is always a young lady, forever an old soul. A past filled with unbelievable love, heartbreak, and experiences of unbearable twists. Yet she continues to dream fully. Alicia is a grateful daughter, silly sister, and has a special dog. Dancing her indigenous culture, she shares her story of survival and everyday learning in order to love herself.