Censor Yourself - By Rachael Gillespie

Written By: Rachael Gillespie

Category: Free verse Poetry

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Delve into the evocative world of "Censor Yourself," a free verse poem by Rachael Gillespie. This work is featured in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, a platform celebrating diverse voices and creative expression. Gillespie's poem poignantly explores the theme of censorship and the struggle to maintain one's voice in a world eager to silence it. Her keen observations and raw language invite readers to reflect on the boundaries placed on speech and the power dynamics involved in who gets to tell their story.

About the Work

"Censor Yourself" by Rachael Gillespie is a powerful commentary on the pervasive nature of censorship and its impact on personal expression. The poem's tone is both defiant and introspective, employing stark imagery and unconventional spelling to emphasize the intrusion of censorship into language. Gillespie masterfully uses metaphor and repetition to underscore the theme of silencing, inviting readers to consider the societal implications of muting voices. Her work challenges audiences to confront uncomfortable truths and question the price of perceived comfort.

Censor Yourself

Original Submission by Rachael Gillespie

Censor Yourself

Rachael Gillespie

Isn’t it so convenient

For you, and you, and y0u

With hundreds of bl@cked out pages

Make every word effortless to replace

Make it all easy for the privileged to drink down

You can c-t the words out each story

Or you can c-t up my b0dy, make it look beautifully g*ry

Dancing around the censorship cha*ns

With sh@ckles of roses, made with loving mercy

Just don’t mind the steel th0rns – Just stop crying.

I’ll make it easy for you to stomach

My every word censored for your own comfort

As bl0od g*rgles in my thr0at

It’ll ch0ke me to silence – while you cover my m0uth

A siren seduc*ng song made it to the top ten this month

At least a million dedicated fanatic listeners

Censor Yourself for me

My story will be turned to a child’s fable

The book covers made childlike, to make it more palatable

B@n the information to protect the children

While my spine is b0und & br0ken repeatedly

Te@r out my pages

Turn the paper into pretty origami to be put on display

Written p@in is only words

Spoken w0rds are only noise

My muted no*se turns into censor bars

A high pitched cens0r only animals can hear

Pr€y must not be heard by the pr€dator

C-t my story into b*te sized p*eces

Garnish it all with a bit€able bait for the sea of lions

Make it h@tefully sensational

Then sh0ve the same kn*fe down my thr0at

A weeping heart so s*nfully gu*lty

Bru*ses will clothe my b0dy

Blue, purple, red and bl0ody – I am so sorry

With romance so br-tal and

V*olence so er0tic

The line between is pa*nfully thin

At least it’s easier for you to bear to hear

Headlines made to degr@de the gu*lty v*ctim

R@pe coerced to be Sex*al Assa*lt SA Sex*ally h@rassed Grape

M-rder forced to be Un@live

S-icide infantilised into Self-unsubscr*be Sewer Sl*de

Cens0r Y0urself for me

Sweet honey glazed tab0os

An added art*ficial sugar so it’s not so b*tter

Wouldn’t want it to h-rt

Your l*ttle big feelings

Tr*gger warning!

Cens0r Y0urself for me.

Think of the ch*ldren who can read such v-lgarities

Let’s have families watch p*rn corn on the living room TV

Ignore the naked people having sex seggs the hor*zontal t@ngo on the screen

At least it’s PG13

Cens0r Y0urself for me

Protect the Press from your f*lthy words. How v*le you really are.

Make it plain and simple cens0red Alg0speak so anyone can understand

Inf@ntilise it for everyone so the pedophiles PDF-files can get off on your child-like t0ngue

Cens0r Y0urself for me.

B€g me to hold your sh@ky h@nd. I was alone.

As I tell my v-lgar tr-th. Nobody would listen.

I’m sorry it’s so pa*nful to hear my tr@uma. I must relive it.

But I must Cens0r myself for y0u.

C@lculated coldness, with un€mpathetic j-dgement on me

Tip-toeing the thes@urus pages

Paper th*n lines cannot be cr0ssed lest I become the reason for my own pa*n

Words simplifying with every retelling

But cens0r y0urself

Make it unbe@rable to re@d.

But at least it’s easier to swallow.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious platform that celebrates the art of storytelling in its many forms. This competition encourages writers globally to share their unique voices and perspectives, fostering a creative community that values diversity and originality. With categories ranging from poetry to short stories, the competition seeks to highlight exceptional talent and inspire meaningful dialogue through the written word.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Rachael Gillespie for sharing her poignant poem, "Censor Yourself," with us. Her participation in the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 brings to light the essential conversation around voice and censorship. We look forward to seeing more of her thought-provoking work in the future. Thank you, Rachael, for your fearless contribution to the literary arts.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.