There she was, in the corner

minding her own business

her long legs winding

sitting and waiting 

for life, and beauty, and sun

Harm not, 

except to sustain

her fragile force

living her truth

feeding her children

But we saw not,

her life,

her eyes,

her beauty,

her sun

We saw death,

her venom — 

an unwanted burden

We crushed her,

in body, in spirit,

in fear,

seeing only her danger

and never hearing her truth