The unicorn wandered slowly
          seeking relief from loneliness.
The woman sat, shattered
          from the rape she had endured.
From the dust of the plains
          the unicorn to her place came.
She looked up in wonderment
          at the vision of silver-white.
The unicorn politely, gravely
          dipped his head before her.
Tears sprang suddenly to eyes
          as she realized the truth;
He hadn't come for her,
          she was virgin no longer.


"Go away.
          I'm not for you.
Please,
          don't haunt me in my shame."
His feet were planted,
          unshaken.
"Can't you see what they
          did to me?
What I've done to myself
          so I might survive?"
The unicorn nodded,
          unpreturbed.


"Then why are you here?
          Virgins only
are fit for you. They alone
          are pure enough to stand beside you."
The unicorn nodded,
          undisturbed.
"Then go away."
          But you are virgin.
She sobbingly screamed.
          "I'm not! They used me,
they threw me away!"
          You are virgin. the voice
not a voice had to say.
          "Liar!...
What is virgin anyway?"


The battered bent woman
          cringed back from the sight
bursting upon her, behind her eyes.
          Blazing beauty almost
too much to bear.
          Virgins aren't those who haven't had sex,
they are those who hold this within.
          "What makes this beauty?" she dared to ask,
crying aloud in her mind.
          They are the green and living branch,
the ones who hold steadfast
          through the depths of hell.
You are virgin, can't you see?
          Bodies matter not: your mind is
unsubdued.
          Your soul's beauty and strength remains.


The unicorn shook his shaggy head
          The sight I showed you
               is you.
May I not remain?
          "Oh!" Glory shown in her tear-bright eyes.
"Please stay; help me see more."
          Greys and rust of the day shimmer
now silver and bronze
          as the unicorn lays down his head.