Do Not Relapse Into Silence

By Ceren Tekin

Hello little girl
Would you like to introduce yourself to me?
If it is okay for you, may I hear your voice?
I would like to learn with you and from you
Did that surprise you?
Yes, I am older than you, but I think you can teach me
I do not know your stories
But if you share them with me, I will be very happy
When I hear you, you can give me hope and inspiration
In addition, you can give hope and inspiration to the others
Thus, please do not relapse into silence
Never forget that
Your voice, your ideas, your opinion, yourself and your life
They are so precious
So, never let anyone take them away from you
And when you want to get help, do not hesitate
Never quit certainty for hope
There are still good people in the world
Yes, you may meet with bad people too
Therefore, you must be strong, believe in yourself and have confidence
Never forget that
You are very beautiful and special
It's so wonderful to meet you
Again, never forget that
The world needs you

<footnote>*I was inspired to write this poem after viewing the video "Cherry Kingsley ~ Recognizing the Person" (2002) in an undergraduate class at Carleton University.</footnote>