THE NAME SILENCE COULD NEVER ERASE

The night stitched sorrow beneath her skin,

while raging storms stirred deep within.

Oceans of tears, deserts of words,

a captive sun, unheard by the world.

“You are fragile!” the world would say,

while she bore mountains day by day.

She was ash and fire,

a teardrop and a hurricane,

a rose in bloom upon the blade of fate.

Oh, woman, how many times did you silence your voice

to spare the peace of those who never heard you?

How many springs did you bury deep within

so that other gardens might bloom?

But listen: even stone can learn to cry aloud,

even darkness bows before the breaking dawn.

You are not the wound the world has left behind,

but the hand that dares to shape your own destiny.

And when history speaks your name,

let it speak with honour, free from judgment and pity;

for no sky is vast enough to hold

a woman who has reclaimed her freedom.

Biography: Menda Vreto is an Albanian writer who lives and creates in Italy. She is the author of several books published in Italian, and her works have been translated into several languages internationally. She regularly collaborates with both online and print magazines, where she publishes literary articles and essays. Her work has received significant recognition. Among her achievements is the Special Jury Award in the literary competition Il Silenzio Uccide (Silence Kills), where her work was featured prominently in the anthology. Her first book also attracted the attention of the prestigious magazine Marie Claire, which featured her extensively, recognizing both her work and her journey as an author. Menda Vreto proudly bears the surname Vreto, a name connected to the distinguished figure of the Albanian National Renaissance, Jani Vreto. She considers this family name a legacy of profound cultural and historical significance.