When Abuse Ends

sometimes, things end in whimpers.
sometimes bangs, which are more definite.
but at least with whimpers,
you can tell it's the end.

and sometimes you don't know.
it's been longer and longer between
what's been happening to you
or what is happening to you?
you can't tell.

it's blurry,
whether he will suggest a game
of hide and seek,
"your favourite" with a squeeze,
or stay eating vol au vents with the adults.

foggy and grey,
will he press you into a corner
where you've learned to be silent
to be good, five minutes
two minutes more, i promise
you're so good
such a good girl,
but it's our secret.
or will you get to stay
and play barbies alone?

when you're twelve
and it's been months between
"games",
you actually cry
(alone, of course)
because you must have done
something, wrong
because he doesn't want to play any more,
even though you hate the games.

you wanted it to be over.
why are you so sad it stopped?
why can't you talk to any one about it?
what did you do wrong?
is it over or is this a long break between games?

j.f.

Reviews

[sette]

the cycle of abuse never stops, it is endless and the victims who have been traumatized will be left with unhealed scars and the irony of this is the victim of abuse can sometimes be the abuser towards the other.. sad society, sad world and the question remains? isnt family the basic institution, what happened?

[John the Baptist]

Mind blowing, especially the next to last verse. No wonder it's so hard for abuse victims to speak up. Well done.