Hiding in Wonderland - A Sestina Poem

If I could run away

and hide myself beneath the curve

of an ocean wave, or tuck myself inside the tunnel

of a tornado, or maybe if I could burrow

down into a hedgehog’s hole—

perhaps I could find my safe place.

Because that safe place

is no longer here. Somewhere, in Far Away

Land—where dreams borrow

princesses and drop Alices into tunnels,

where cats and rabbits can talk, where little girl’s curves

are no more noticeable than the hole

in a little girl’s stockings—I wish I could fall in that hole

with Alice. Perhaps I could find my safe place.

Because in Wonderland, the bad men are far far away,

and in Wonderland, they do not ask to borrow

your lips. They do not pierce through your tunnel

or cover

your mouth with their salty hands, or cover

your breasts with their sour breath. I hold

my breath and pretend that I am in another place,

in Never Never Land, or Far Far Away

where I can burrow

down in Alice’s tunnel

in hopes that somewhere inside that tunnel

there is safety for me. My curves

would go unnoticed. My uncle would go away

and build me a palace

from sand like he used to before they lowered Mama in the hole,

before they borrowed

a satin covered box, and let Mama burrow

down through the ground to the hedgehog’s tunnel.

Mama, let me go with you. Let me carve

out the ground, and free-fall into the hole.

Perhaps I will find my safe place

before my spirit seeps away.

One day in Far Away, a prince will borrow

this princess, take me to Wonderland, and carve a tunnel

for me to hide in while he holds me. And I will be safe, in that place.

We teach our children, “stranger, danger.” But the truth of the matter is that it’s the ones closest to us who often hurt us the most. The statistics on sexual assault are daunting. Sexual assault does not discriminate: 1 out of every 5 women are sexually assaulted, and 1 out of every 10 males are sexually assaulted before they turn 13. Sexual assault happens in the home, the workplace, and even in the military. Usually, when a person is violated in this most intimate way, it's by a person who he or she does know in some capacity.

• In the U.S., roughly 22 million women are raped at some point during their life
• 1 out of every 5 women will be raped or sexually assaulted
• only 1 out of every 4 rape/sexual assault cases are perpetrated by a stranger
• nearly 50% of female rapes happen at the hands of a family member or intimate partner
• 90% of children rape victims know their attacker
• military is 15 times more likely to be sexually assaulted/raped by fellow soldier than killed in war/combat (Policy Mic)
• military sexual assault has risen by 43% from 2012 to 2013 (Policy Mic)

In closing, this sestina poem is a tribute of sympathy and empathy to every individual out there, female or male, adult or child, who has ever been violated in the most intimate way. Here’s hoping that you have found or will eventually find serenity and safety in your Wonderland.