and the children

have been chastised

by the adults

and the rowdies

have threatened

people again

they will beat us

they said

they will cut off

our tongues

if we speak

but I will speak

because there is

no other way to live

and I have no fear

they will hit me

with iron rods

they will stab me

with knives

and swords

and burn me

with kerosene

and kill me

but I will speak

against all the evil

they do

all the cheating

all the bullying

all the harrassment

against all

the wickedness

they perpetrate

I will speak.