Battery

...unending cycle...

Life-draining
unrelenting
Contentious
emotional hijacking

Of the worst sort
Every word met with a snarky retort

Everyone tells me to give up on you
Eventually I know that I will have to

Another night and another police record number
One more step closer to leaving you in the gutter

My face hurts from your most recent assault
Responsibility is yours and yet in me I seek to find fault

Tears fill my eyes and spill down my face
My mistakes as your mother I wish I could erase

Even still it's been proven that I always did my best
Though I'll never be able to lay my guilt to rest

Sweet baby boy grown into an abusive young man
I have lost the ability as your advocate to stand

For years now I've sought to right any wrong
Hoping and praying that you'd grow respectfully strong

Do you want to press charges I was once again asked
So many times now that I have lost track

I keep trying to give you just one more chance
Only 381 more days to survive this tragic life-threatening dance

Reviews

[Bright Ocean Star]

Phoenix, this one makes my heart ache....Very well written and honest. I can't call it beautiful or lovely in the least.... very powerful, though. My heart bleeds for you... Great write.

[FlamingPhoenix]

Perhaps my spirituality would best be described as a "truth-seeker"--and as a writer, I do seek to capture the truth of every emotion and every experience. Thank you for your review!

[s y e]

Wow, this just about kills me... this is so relatable. This is so heart-wrenching... I'm sending you big huggles.

[FlamingPhoenix]

Aw--thank you kindly!

[Bluefire]

Makes me think of the classic scenario where a parent takes in a monster and after so many times they've forgiven that monster and done nothing, they finally do something and end it.
Either give up on trying to change someone or end their life.
But that happens in movies, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying "kill the monster!"
Anyway, nice write. ^^

[FlamingPhoenix]

Kind of like the movie, "The Good Son"--yeah--I still hold out hope that those who want to can change!

[Bluefire]

Aye, anyone can be whatever they want but the key is, they have to want it and persevere. ^^

[FlamingPhoenix]

Amen! :-).

[Saddam]

Everyone tells me to give up on you
Eventually I know that I will have to.

Sadly but I like that one. Great write dear friend.

[FlamingPhoenix]

Thanks! Yeah, I like those lines too--pure facts!

[Lyn Anderson]

This is a great poem, and one that hurts to the core. But for the grace of God go I, as I pray my kids do not reap what they've seen -- my heart aches for the mother in this piece.

[FlamingPhoenix]

Mine too--since this piece is pure truth--

[Lyn Anderson]

For what it's worth, I am sending you a hug.

[New Theory]

This is so sad, dont make me cry now... :(

[FlamingPhoenix]

Crying isn't always a bad thing--our tear ducts need a good cleansing sometimes!

[melissa]

This is a sad poem but you did amazing job writing this poem keep up the great work i can't wait to read more

[FlamingPhoenix]

:-) many thanks!

[melissa]

You're welcome

[OrangeSlice]

Love this poem and I just have a suggestion. I know some people don't like to be critiqued but I feel it makes us better writers. So if you don't like to be just tell me to shut it lol. But this poem has so much promise :) I was thinking the front you can shorten like... unrelenting, emotional hijacking. Every word uttered is met with a snarky retort. Everyone tell me to give up. That I'm not blame in this twisted cat and mouse game. Just another night and police record on file. My face swollen from your recent assualt. Tears drowned my eyes. A perfect mother I never was. I wish I could erase all my mistakes put all this guilt to rest. My sweet baby boy grew to an abusive man. For years now I've sought to right all your wrongs. Praying you'd become a well natured man, thriving in society never to be looked down upon. I continuously try and give you one more chance. With my heart in dismay, 381 days to this tragic dance.

I hope your not offended I just critique by writing like this.

[FlamingPhoenix]

I'm not offended. Critique away, take what's mine and build upon it for yourself. I like mine the way it is, but I always welcome suggestions :-). I like to learn--for now perfecting my poetic craft will have to wait and simply remain an outlet for my stress. My main writing efforts must be devoted to grad school (education)--so please feel free to offer input--whether or not I take it--I'm given another perspective :-)

[OrangeSlice]

I understand well your writing is beautiful you should think of doing it professionally

[FlamingPhoenix]

Not really my dream -- not with poetry -- I am writing a book though -- but it's on hold til my Thesis is done...

[OrangeSlice]

Oh cool :)

[A. Amos]

Poignant, deep and pround, great write!

[FlamingPhoenix]

Thanks SO much!

[Aethereal]

You expressed this common plight using a well ordered series of logical couplets. It's not possible to live someone's else's life for them. As children grow, they either learn to swim, or they sink. There comes a time when every mother bear must let go of her cubs to fend for themselves in the wild: find their own cave, pick berries, get a mate, raid picnic tables in the park.

[FlamingPhoenix]

Yep! I'm definitely in mama bear mode :-)