NO RUNNING.

A WOMAN AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

She’s running out of
Excuses for bruises.
Explanations run

Shallow after the
Many tellings to
Enquirers of how

That one came and
That one darkens to
 A green blue, and

How she almost
Drowns in a shower
Of blows, no one knows.

Makeup conceals badly,
Like some bodged make
Over, the bruises shine

Through, the artwork in
Each punch, kick and blow.
She wears her sleeves

Unrolled, down to the
Wrists, the body masked
By clothes to hide away

The body blows. She’ll
Await his return; look
Out for the telltale signs,

The look of eyes, the firm
Gesture of lips and mouth,
The body stance, the hard

Faced glance. Maybe she’ll
Leave tomorrow or the day
After, walk away from the

Circus without the sound
Of putdown and laughter.
She’ll consider, take thought

To her escape, balancing
The theory that maybe he’ll
Change if she’ll just walk

Softer and keep her silence;
But maybe he won’t and keep
On with the abuse and violence.

She puts all thoughts away
Like broken toys, shattered
Crockery; she’ll endure the

Relationship out of misguided
Love and daily self-mockery.

Reviews

[Another Relic]

Pretty accurate. How often do we hear "He'll change" and then see the same results over and over again. The dominating partner always seems to get his way and the domineered always seems to stay for more from low esteem. Good topic and style.