And Still I Rise

You see a perfect smile
I see the hidden tears
You see the ideal life
I see a life of pain
You see a role model
I see a broken person
You see what you want
And what I let you see
Beneath my smooth façade
Lies a shattered individual
And no one knows she’s there
The scars are well covered
The tears, perfectly hidden
Don’t tell me you understand
When you don’t even know
Continue thinking I’m perfect
That’s what you’re meant to think
....BY Shirly

On this day to mark Violence against women I thought it best to post one woman's account of the scars abuse has left.