The nightmare of the victim's torture chamber
is securely sealed with secrecy and fear;
Behind the prison bars, -- in solitary,
is the child who sheds a lonely, silent tear.

Stripped of dignity and hiding in the shadows,
bravely waiting for the safety of daylight;
A trusting child becomes the helpless victim,
without essential weapons for the fight.

The bars remain invisible to callous passers by,
who do not stop to help the frightened child
Or pause to see the pain inflicted cleverly,
as the innocent is silenty defiled.

Predators retain the keys with clever subtle threats,
and captivate the hostage through deception;
A child is subject to the violation --
veiled as "friendship," or shrouded as "protection."

The villain gains its abject cunning power
through apathetic silence of the masses
And the passive stance of all the sightless people,
who will not loose the choking silent lashes.

To turn away will sacrifice the child
and support the power of the covert beast,
While we leave the keys that lock the dungeons' secrets
in the evil hands of those we trust the least.

Source: National Institute of Mental Health, 1988

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