Poems

Her Silent Prayer

I stand and wipe the tears from my eyes
No one knows, no one to realize
The home I live in is not safe
The bruises are hid and not on my face...
The pain inside, I hide so well
No friends for me, no one to tell...
With family away and will never see
For I keep the secret deep inside of me...
Hiding the pain and living a lie
Never complain and try not to cry...
A part of me dies with each new mark
I'm so afraid as I stand in the dark...
No longer can I take the pain
I am not the one to blame....
This love hurts and should not be
God please send an angel for me...

© Copy rite- Mattie (Deaton) Herald 2001

Winner of the "Editors Choice Award" 2001

Book: A Sublime Remembrance" (ISBN: 0-7951-5065-2)

2002 Update  -  This poem has been donated to the Domestic Violence Network of Greater Indianapolis for a fundraising project to raise awareness to domestic violence.

The book was published under the name "Hear Our Voices" and is now available at Border's Book Store or from DVHGI Proceeds from this project go toward furthering education about domestic violence and victim assistance. The project was funded by a grant and all proceeds go directly to assisting victims.

2003 - This poem was used in the "Shattering The Silence" project presented by Channel 13 News.  The project was a continuing campaign raising awareness of Domestic Violence.  I was honored to have been part of this project. They filmed my reading of the poem and played it during public announcements for the month of October.

Every nine seconds in the United States a women is beaten. Domestic Violence is the most under-reported crime in the country.  Eighty percent of the children who live in homes where domestic violence occurs witness the abuse.  On average four women are murdered every day by their male partner in the U. S.  Women in the United States are in nine times more danger in their homes than on the street.

What will You do to help End Domestic Violence?

Buy the book on Amazon or any Border's Book Store

The Secret

There's a secret inside I've never told

And no one knows but me...

A pain I hide from those on the outside

And no one knows but me...

The shame I feel I can never reveal

And no one knows but me...

A secret I keep afraid you might see

And no one knows but me...

My face never shows the secret untold

And no one knows but me...

A hand of a friend I pray will extend

And no one knows but me... 

© Mattie Herald

In The Mirror

I stand and look at the face I see

Wondering who would ever love me.

Ghost from the past seem everywhere I go

It seems to me everyone will know

A beckoning light shines far away

Giving me hope so I won't stray

Keeping my faith and steadily tread

Don't look back-keep my eyes straight ahead

But I'm not as alone as it may seem

For now, I know there are many like me

Their dreams were shattered

Their lives torn apart

For not keeping their place

Not playing their part.

Learning to like what the mirror reflects

Keep my chin up and have no regrets

Believing in me is the first step I take

Thinking first of me and never forsake

A new life to build

A new reflection to see

I'm beginning to like the new face of me

(C) Mattie Herald ~2007~

Disbelief-September 11

 As we stand in the shadows and look toward the sky

Something is missing, and we ask, Why God, Why…

As all went dutifully round bout their day

No word of warning, while busy, they stayed

 As policemen and firemen rushed to the scene

Disbelief and shock-who would do such a thing…

 This is America, this can’t happen to us

But happened it did, now face it we must.

So united we’ll stand, proud we will be

Fight for our land, the home of the free

 God blessed our nation…In Him we must trust

 As solemnly we stand mid the ashes and dust.

 (c) Mattie L (Deaton) Herald  2001