The Music Drowns Out Their Screams

She rolls with the punches,
a tsunami of his rage,
split lipped, and
ill-equipped to make
herself small enough
to hide in his dark shadow.

He guzzles
bravado from a bottle
full throttle, flexing
wrath across
her path, looking to
make his mark on soft
flesh that once yielded
to a gentler touch.

They are caught in
the devil's dance
where loathing and fear
snap to attention with
the crack of each beer.

Reviews

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

They are caught in
the devil's dance -- love these lines in terms of your concept...powerful.

Growing up, my best friend's father was a raging alcoholic, and I can remember seeing this scene played out in real life; a terrible thing that left emotional scars...and if it scarred me, I can only image going through it personally. When we are in the center of something, though, it is often difficult to see the edges...or the exits. Well done, emotionally provacative write.

[icelandicblue]

Hi Sarah,

Thanks for your comment and for sharing. You are right, although there are options it is very hard to see the door of escape. Many families suffer this horror in silence. As a teacher I am a mandated reporter if I suspect any kind of abuse at all. Interesting enough the school is a lot more reticent to push it to social services unless it is blatantly obvious or life threatening. There is a pervasiveness within bureaucracy to ere on the side of caution (angry parents or lawsuits). It is often why friends and neighbors turn a blind eye. I am always taken aback if I am in the hospital or the doctor's office and I am asked if I feel safe at home. There are also signs and information in the restrooms. I don't know if that is a Massachusetts thing or a national program. It drives home the point as to how many people are not safe and caught in the devil's dance where they feel trapped by the alcohol and the violence. Thank you again for your thoughtful comment.

[Mark]

We can get so caught in the chains of inertia and believe so much in our own powerlessness that we can actually die before realizing we have choice. We always have choice.

[icelandicblue]

We do always have a choice, you are right Mark. There are also more options for both parties today than there were at one time.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

this could not be worded any stronger than it is...i felt the cracks. the slaps, the splatters of blood.

really immensely important piece of writing..the rage from the bottle...

it has to stop.

jacob

[icelandicblue]

Thanks Jacob- I have been moved by some incidents in the news. We also had an incident in the town I teach in that made the news a few years ago, the woman was killed by her husband while her children were at home. I also had a student's father arrested because of the cache of illegal guns he was hoarding, no one was sure what he was going to do with them. Bad things happen everywhere, even in "nice" neighborhoods. No neighborhood is immune. Thank you for taking the time to comment.

[Ayvid N]

This superbly well-crafted poem makes a powerful impact, with its choice of words, its delivery style. A masterpiece, and it will be a pleasure read more such fine writing from you. You deserve an outstanding ovation!

[icelandicblue]

I am humbled by your kind review.

[Joyce S. Greene]

Your poem is so powerful that it hits a reader in the gut, metaphorically speaking, Anne. An absolutely horrific experience and you have made it come to life before our eyes. Great poetry about a very sad event in way too many women's lives (and occasionally, from what I've read), some men's, as well.

[icelandicblue]

Yes, it's true Joyce. Battered men have also hidden in the shadows because of cultural bias. It is a horrible problem in our society. Incidents rise as economies fall as well. Thanks so much for commenting.

[Pryde Foltz]

It is so heartbreaking that so many people still live like this. So much anger; so much rage.

[icelandicblue]

It truly is heartbreaking. We've come a long way but still have a long way to go.

[Pete Langley]

Dreadful and far too common....most often caused by sad individuals who fear their own insignificance. A courageous piece, blue. P.

[icelandicblue]

Thanks so much Pete and what you say is true.

[Lydia Shutter]

A volatile scenario...one in which there are no winners, only losers. Raw and honest emotions between the lines. Excellent work. Lydi**

[icelandicblue]

Thanks for your comment and for reading lydi.

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you for bringing abuse to light ... your poem is straight forward; the picture i see from reading is as horrendous as abuse is ... someone very close to me has had such experiences in her past ... you have captured it all .. they are cowards who abuse..
E.

[icelandicblue]

it was always my understanding that my father grew up in a house like this and my heart broke for my dad. Just before he died my dad had shared some of the stories of his childhood. He was 86 and it still haunted him.

[Einstein Noodle]

i dont know what to say iceland ... your dad was a survivor and courageous to have stopped the curse from affecting his family ... he must have been relieved to be able to share some of his experiences with you ... but it must have been bitter sweet for you ... blessings of love and peace and healing are my thoughts for you
E.

[icelandicblue]

My dad was a really gentle man and my grandfather died when I was 2 so I never saw the violence.

[Tom]

Metaphorically splendid, a very powerful poem and its story is all too tragic, abusive relationships quite often fueled by alcohol !

Morally courageous, kudos to you for being the voice of the victim in these all to familiar circumstances!

[icelandicblue]

Thank you for reading this Tom, the problems knows no social or economic boundaries.

[Tom]

No indeed the problem is not selective !