Joe

It's wonderful when a poem can actually create change in the world. It is also interesting that you saved this for all these years.

I'm so sorry to hear that you had to go through this. It's good that you complained about him. He should have not been transferred to another unit. That's ridiculous. Great poem. :)

You are very brave, I hope he has faced some kind of punishment in his life for his wickedness...

Very moving piece, thanks!!!!!!!!

very moving piece

What an open and honest poem and very brave of you to turn a trauma into something that could inspire and encourage others to persevere.

Thank you for your comments. I was actually the lucky one in this situation. I was the healthiest of the girls and led the complaint against this man. When the staff retaliated, the others recanted one by one. It was because I was able to keep strong and follow through on the complaint that I was least affected. The man was eventually removed from our unit, but transfered to a different children's unit. I was so angry because he was transfered to a unit that housed younger children- who would never be able to stand up for themselves.

hey,i am so sorry to learn about your ordeal,thats very sad. good poem though. and thanks for your comment on my article.

I knew a child who was in the state facility in Portland for children in the 90s (I never knew exactly where he was) and he is still pretty messed up to this day. I took him in and tried to raise him 2 years or 3 years after he had been put in that facility and it was obvious he had been sexually abused and his case worker made it appear as though it was something that happened while in his mom's house (though the other 3 didn't seem to share this experience). Now this sort of makes things make a little more sense. It is beyond sad when people who are supposed to be helping children--protecting children--go so far against their duties to harm them. I feel that crimes against children are the worst sort of crimes and should be punished as such!

I am sorry to learn about your ordeal.....................thanks for sharing this difficult experience.................I hope expressing yourself helps in healing...............my prayers are with you...............