There’s a girl out there who’s silenced,
There’s a girl out there confined in an enclosure; relentlessly looking for a chance to take flight,
There’s a girl out there with ink black hair and mahogany eyes like mine;
But she’s tangled in twine,
There’s a girl out there who can’t learn and take HER turn to lead her own life,
There’s a girl out there who had her voice slashed away with a knife,
There’s a girl out there just like me except she’s never been free,
I’m a girl here and I can shout,
I’m a girl here and I yell my hopes and dreams – share what life’s about,
I’m a girl here and I’m safe – protected in this place,
I’m a girl here and my voice has always had space,
I’m a girl here and I can have privacy or transparency,
I’m a girl here and no steel punishes, nor mutes me,
There are people here who have voices,
There are people here who have autonomy to make their own choices,
There are people here who’ve never felt the cold sting of iron pressed to their necks,
There are people here who just watch with bated breath,
There are people here who don’t realise there are other people out there,
That the people out there that don’t have rights,
That they don’t have any strength left to fight,
There are some people right here,
People who have the courage,
The ferocity,
The determination,
To grab the blade from others throats,
To free them from the prison that bound them,
To feel empathy and compassion for them in their hearts,
To give them so much love it could overflow carts,
There’s a girl out there just like me,
And one day she will claim her liberty.