Can I Love You?

In light of domestic violence month.

You can whisper sweet words into my ear
You can gently caress me the whole night through
You can buy me roses, and read to me romantic proses
But will you allow me to love you?

You can bring the world down to my feet
You can kiss me until the end of time too
But when your empty promises, are painfully ominous,
How could I ever love you?

When you whisper words that sweep me off my feet
And cause the butterflies to flutter in me like they do
But when you strike me across the cheek, tell me that I'm useless and weak
Can I really ever, truly, love you?

You cannot demand respect out of me
When you say you love me but then leave me black and blue
When you abuse me, you cannot be free
Please allow me to love you!

I'm a human being created with a purpose
I can give you what you need if you let me into,
Your beating heart, let me be your other part
If only you'd see the love I had for you.

Please consider these words before it's too late
For you still have time to undo
The damage you caused, you can still reclaim what was killed and lost,
Before it's too late, show me that I can love you.

Author's Note

This is in light of domestic violence month. If you know someone who is being abused, please help them get the help they need to get out of that situation. Although my poem is written from the perspective of a woman being abused by a man, in reality, abuse knows no gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, or race.