fall, a time of planting
envisioning a new landscape
working the soil with courage
preparing for new roots
as beginnings emerge on the horizon
digging deep for solid ground
burying bulbs of anger, sadness and grief
as tears relieve the roots transition
nourishing hope for new growth
in coming seasons.

winter, in times of cold and hardness
life can be resilient
red berries help decorate barren landscapes
as most withdraw
finding safe homes underground
enduring the weather’s brutality.

will the sun draw near
fighting back these clouds of violence and
bring warmth to garden dwellers
hiding in dormancy?
expectantly, the axis shifts
daffodils, jonquils, redbuds
bradford pears, creeping phlox, tulips
return with great stability and welcome.

spring, rain  showers
quench the thirst of the troubled soul
wash away winter’s hardened defense
softening the ground, loosening the mind
encouraging and calling for tend-erness.

hands fill with dirt
the dark shadows transform
arising abundance from barren landscapes
out of dormancy
into light.

summer, plentiful annuals
fruits and flowers
seedlings that once took shelter underground
stand tall and brilliantly adorn
the garden
forgiving its shape
transcending the pain
replenishing the soil;
with each inhalation
fragrances of opportunity
emerge from the dirt.

nature’s cycle reveals the resilient perennial
taking care of the garden
maturing and learning to nurture
gaining lessons in endurance
months, years, half her life has passed
with this dirt under her nails.

looking up from her hands
seeing life’s landscape
her mind finally breathes
with a heart at peace
freely moves her tended soul.

                                 mainstream     animosity

                                 matriarchal     burden

                                  mandatory     calling

                                          manic     depression

                                melancholic     expression

                                 masochistic     frustration

                                        misery’s     grace

                                     mediocre     hope

                                         mental     immobilization

                                  medicated     justice

                                        militant     knowledge

                                    mysterious     labyrinth

                                    monstrous     mutiny

                                    magnified     narcissism

                                    malignant     oppression

                             machiavellian     power

                     miscommunicated     questions

                               manipulated     respect

                                  malevolent     society

                               monopolized     tears

                                       mournful     uterus

                                       masked     violence

                                     marching     women

                                       morality     xeroxed

                             mega phoned     youth

                                metabolized     zealot

The Orange County Rape Crisis Center welcomes you to join in our efforts to shout out against sexual violence in our community. In April we organize for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) and host a month of programs, campaigns and fundraisers to get the word out about the devastating effects sexual violence has on survivors, their families and their communities. This year SAAM will culminate with our 8th Annual Shout Out!  There is a culture of silence that surrounds sexual violence and the Shout Out! was created to be a night to break the silence in a safe, supportive space.

The Shout Out! provides a space for survivors of sexual violence and their allies to speak out and respond to the sexual violence in our community. It is a night of poetry, spoken word, song, art and justice. It is a space for healing, growth and social change. All are welcome and it is free and open to the public. It will be held at the Symour Center on Monday April 26th from 6 to 8 PM.