To complete my final blog post as an Awaken intern, I wrote a poem dedicated to survivors of sexual exploitation. I chose the honey badger because of their internal strength and perseverance. This is the same strength that I see in survivors at Awaken.
An Ode to a Survivor
People question why the honey badger is so fierce
what if I told you that it was because she has spent her entire life
fighting off predators like the lions and leopards that relentlessly threaten her existence?
and that her thick skin and coarse fur is what comes from protecting her body for far too long
See, from the ripe age of birth, the honey badger has had no choice but to be gallant
tricked and taunted by cobras as they slide across the desert floor
but her valiance protects her from venom
So, when you encounter a honey badger be aware and approach her carefully
as the honey badger does not trust easily,
she has been wounded by those threatened by her vigor
but make no mistake and do not pity the honey badger
for the honey badger is the most fearless animal in the wild
her sharp fangs acting as her guard
biting deep down as her wounds,
fresh from the stings of killer bees
her notable resilience
like a spring tulip
for she is a survivor.
