A Voice

The cracking of the horsewhip
strips on my back
blood oozing
I have a voice.
 
Your hand rises
your voice roars
trying to silence me
I still have a voice.
 
You may degrade with words
trample me underfoot 
Oppress and torment 
but I still have a voice.
 
My voice …no longer faint
My voice …loud like thunder
My voice–
saying enough.