Testified

The spacing between lines is not what I was going for, but its not responding the way I want.

She testified . . .
     Everyday . . .
For years . . .
    In her mind . . .




The lawyers
     In their
        Gucci suits


Never called
      Never came
           In search of her




They didn’t see
     Behind the crushed
            Velvet creases
                 Burnt orange
                        Gapping
                           Curtains . . .


      Hiding
        Retiring
            Timid
               Tiny
                  Us        
                            We . . .  
                        Knew  . . .
                     Him . . .
                 Had  . . . 
              For . . .
           Years . . .


Heard . . . 
   Strange . . . 
      Whispers
        Down . . .
          Lengthy . . . 
            Hallways . . .





They never asked
     . . . this child





No one ever asked
Me . . . or her



Our friends
    Hidden ignored



Probation
    Conviction . . .





Again





Some other child’s . . .
Word . . . was enough



They . . . never looked . . . here





Because courts never asked
       Because she never told
              The right people . . .
                         Because . . .they
               Never made him pay,
      She did . . .Grandmas in denial