Rings under her
eyes
Docile much like
a rabbit
Fear her
companion
Children were in
bed
Long before he
came home drunk
For his evening
meal
He might be okay
Not inflict her
with abuse
She could never
tell
With some money
left
He’d slowly eat
in silence
He might not hit
her
With empty
pockets
She would be the
one at fault
If she’d dared
whimper
Nobody believed
Her excuse for
the bruises
Even her children
They tried not to
cry
Huddled together
in bed
And kept dead quiet
Image found at www.zolaurbannews.co.za
You've captured well the uncertainty and fear in abusive situations. It's too bad they exist.
ReplyDeleteCan certainly relate to this heart wrenching poem..why do we always protect those who harm us...can the consequences be any worse than those already meted out...or do they have us so well trained..like an addiction...powerful poem Old Egg..but not at all mawkish
ReplyDeleteGreat job with this OE...Unfortunately brought back some long ago buried memories.
ReplyDeleteAbusers specialize in taking out their frustrations with life on the people who are least responsible for them.
ReplyDeleteYou wrote that with such melancholy passion. I have chosen a similar theme this week as I suspect others will have too.
ReplyDeleteyou've captured the fear and silence that abusers create perfectly.
ReplyDeleteIt happens all too often. I've known a few women in the middle of it, and found them frustrating because they refused help.
ReplyDeleteFamily violence is never a good thing.
ReplyDeleteOh! Such abuse is so depressing...
ReplyDeleteSadly many are at the receiving end of such...
May everyone be happy & may there be no abuse or bruises or scared kids...
sad and depressing but true in many cases
ReplyDelete