She explains how she betrayed her friend
by trying to support her friend.
The woman before me described the abuse
her friend received
to her friend’s family
before her friend was ready to out herself
about the experiences.

In telling me the story
she is again betraying her friend,
since I know both of the women involved.
I won’t tell anyone, I swear,
but everything is probably out in the open by now,
anyway.

I hate to think of either of these wonderful
powerful women being hurt.
I’d be terrified to raise a hand
to either one of them,
so sharp are their tongues alone.

It is unimaginable that they could be harmed
by the fleeting fingers of boys
yet I’ve heard their tales
read their works.
They’ve even been damaged by each other.

Such tragedy

Such art.

I am awestruck
to experience it.