Missing and Murdered - Ella Lopes

In the twilight’s silent sigh,

Whispers lingerie, voices cry.

Amidst the shadows, lost they roam,

The missing and murdered, far from home.

Their names like petal in the wind,

Forgotten stories, where do they begin?

Through generations, echoes ring,

Of sisters and daughters who took flight on wing.

In the embrace of mother earth,

Their spirits wander, seeking rebirth.

Yet justice falters, the truth concealed,

Wounds of injustice are left unhealed.

From urban streets to forests deep,

Their absence felt, their secrets keep.

The silence deafening, the profound,

In every corner, their echoes resound.

But in the darkness, a flicker of light,

As voices rise, breaking through the night.

Demanding justice, demanding change,

For those whose lives were rearranged.

So let us listen, let us hear,

Their stories whispered in the air.

And in their memory, let us stand,

Together united, hand in hand.

For until the missing are found,

Until the silenced voices resound.

We’ll raise our voices strong and true,

For the missing, and murdered, and their truth anew

Please give a detailed explanation about the meaning and main idea of this poem.

The meaning and message behind this poem is for all the missing and murdered Indigenous women who weren't able to speak up or escape. Being an Indigenous youth without any first hand trauma, I want to be able to speak out and speak for those who are still unable to.

Please explain your writing and thought process regarding this poem.

I wrote this last year on May 5th when I had to leave class because of sensitive topic discussion. I didn't have my phone so I chose to take my mind off of things by picking up a pencil and paper, and along the way I found myself with a beautiful poem in front of me.

Why did you choose to write this poem?

I chose to write if because I needed a distraction from thing around me.