“Bone” is a poem from Yrsa Daley-Ward’s critically acclaimed poetry collection of the same name. Born in Chorley, Lancashire, to a Jamaican mother and Nigerian father, Daley-Ward brings a unique perspective shaped by her multicultural heritage and experiences growing up in Northern England. Her work is celebrated for its fearless exploration of themes like identity, trauma, and healing, often blending raw personal narrative with universal truths about human pain and resilience.

In “Bone”, Daley-Ward confronts the devastating reality of sexual abuse, portraying a survivor’s journey through pain, shame, coercion and resilience. Through vivid, fragmented vignettes, she captures the raw complexity of surviving abuse—the physical, emotional, and psychological “resetting” required to “sew up the tears” left behind by trauma.

The poem’s fragmented writing style mirrors the fractured nature of the speaker’s experience, forcing the reader to confront the disorientation and confusion that often accompany such abuse.

Daley-Ward’s poignant language paints a picture of both survival and struggle, revealing how individuals often internalize abuse, questioning their own desires and worth. The repetition of phrases like “sometimes you think that you do” emphasizes the complexity of consent and the ways in which trauma can distort self-perception.

Ultimately, “Bone” is a reflection of the resilience required to navigate such abuse, while also acknowledging the weight of the scars it leaves behind. Daley-Ward doesn’t offer easy answers or a quick fix to healing; instead, she presents an unflinching portrayal of the ongoing process of recovery.

 

Read the poem here:

From One

who says, “Don’t cry.

You’ll like it after a while.”

 

and Two who tells you thank-you

after the fact and can’t look at your face.

 

To Three who pays for your breakfast

and a cab home

and your mother’s rent.

 

To Four

who says,

“But you felt so good

I didn’t know how to stop.”

 

To Five who says giving your body

is tough

but something you do very well.

 

To Six

Who smells of tobacco

and says “Come on, I can feel that 

you love this.”

 

To those who feel bad in the morning 

yes,

some feel bad in the morning

 

and sometimes they tell you

you want it

and sometimes you think that you do.

 

Thank heavens you’re resetting

ever

setting and

resetting

 

How else do you sew up the tears?

How else can the body survive?

 

If you’re in immediate danger or fear for your safety, please call 911.

If you are experiencing gender-based violence, you can access the contact information of sexual assault centres, crisis lines and support services based on your province or territory here.

Image Credits:

Featured Image: Jacqueline Day on Unsplash