FALLEN by Michelle Jones

“If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” –George Berkeley

“If a woman falls, and everyone is around to see it, but no one cares, does she make a sound?” –Tamar

I fell
as tears from Judah’s eyes
I ran
until
anger wiped me
from his face
Daughter swiped
from daughter’s place.

If a woman falls
because
Life turned off the lights
pushed her from behind
shoved her in the side
stripped her
then tripped her
without a
heads up
about the down stairs…

Does she just wait
for Bottom
to shatter the bones of her
hoping the groans of her
reach somebody.
Anybody?

I fell
naked, flailing
wailing soaked up by Deaf Dark
gravity rushing me to my grave
Cold dirt hungry
for warm flesh

I fell
past the coulda-done-something eyes
the shoulda-done-something lies
Humans unseeing
unravel my being
until
the spectacle gives way
to boredom first
and then contempt
unholy affront
unmeant
for hearts pristine
or hands too clean.

Unchaste bride
wed to the whims of evil men
who hold me down
then call me loose
who use me
until
I am a wilderness
a land wasted and forgotten
because
They refuse to remember
I once was beautiful.

So
Bottom seeks to claim me
and rename me
“She is mine,” he says
“She is Fallen.”

But…

If a woman falls and everyone is around to see it, but no one cares, who then is truly
“fallen”?