

CANCELLED
The Ritual
Covers up over the chin,
tucked in around my body
Teddy hugged closely to my chest,
arms crossed
Legs stiff out straight,
clamped together and
crossed at the ankles
Breathing quiet and shallow,
until it virtually disappears
Closet doors shut all the way
Bedroom door opened wide
Supersonic hearing activated
Eyes focused on the open door
Is this the way all 7 year old
girls prepare for sleep?
Cynthia L. Bryant ©June 12, 1994
My poem The Ritual was my first prompted poem, while in therapy
to deal with my sexual abuse as a child. One day on a whim, I sent it
into a National Contest I had read about in The Healing Woman.
I won third place in the Morris Center, San Francisco Contest. The
poem was published by them and later The Healing Woman and I was
asked to read it with others I had written at an event at the Morris
Center. That is where my life-saving poetry began.

Dear Cynthia, September 4, 2019
The Ritual spoke to me as no other writing has. And it spoke for me. I think it speaks for others who don’t have a voice. You are brave and appreciated.
Thank you for your poetry.
Best regards,
Cynthia Lane
Retired
Puyallup, WA


