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No More

Inspired by the many true crime documentaries I have watched
and in memory of Judy Malinowski, whose death set in motion
a law in Ohio called Judy’s Law, to increase punishment to those
who use accelerants leading to disfigurement in felonies.

He started out gas-lighting her -
the wicked man who loved no one
except himself. He thought he was
number one– that narcissistic sun.

He also isolated her.
To no one could she ever run
except to him – that self-important
filthy scum – a narcissistic sun.

Her sister said, “No more. No more”
and helped her see that she
was not to blame for anything.
From that brute she had to flee.

It wasn’t easy. There were kids,
but when he blackened both her eyes
and bloodied her, she knew at last
she had to cut with him all ties.

She got an order of protection,
yet she lived in constant fear.
He stalked her, and she couldn’t even
know whenever he was near.

She was his prey, his possession.
To see his ex-wife having fun
he could not tolerate because
he was a tyrant narcissistic sun.

One day he followed her to work.
She did not have a clue
when she stopped to fill her gas tank
of what he had planned to do.

Gasoline he doused her with.
What pain and terror she was forced to feel!
That narcissistic sun, so hot with rage,
ended up gas-lighting her for real.

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Ink Empress Date: 3/17/2025 10:19:00 PM Dear Andrea Yes unfortunately this is so common still, and i watch many true documentaries too and often ys it is the partner that is behind so much as youv mentioned in your notes. I found this poem very straightforward raw and on point and one that raises awareness and gets the readers connected from the very first line in such an effortless manner! Made me smile because as i read some lines i thought so this might be written by you. The ending is horrific! Its haunting! One that needs to be told! Congratulations on your win! Thank you for joining in and for raising awareness and for using my prompt too. Login to Reply Andrea Dietrich Date: 3/17/2025 10:30:00 PM Thanks, Ink. I really like how gas lighting can be taken two ways so I set it up that way. So horrific that she LIVED a month or two to be witness and get him put away. He was is such a monster and with our stupid law system. I bet he is already back out to abuse another woman.

Marilene Evans Date: 3/17/2025 12:19:00 PM Congratulations, Andrea! Spousal or Mate Abuse happens every day and an order of protection does not really work, the abuser would always find a way to get to the prey and do more damage or kill the abused. In rare circumstances, the abuser kills himself/herself. I handled a couple of cases, when the wife drove to the hotel room of the husband with intent to kill and the other, when the wife went in hiding and the husband killed himself. But, this woman went to another abusive relationship? Login to Reply Andrea Dietrich Date: 3/17/2025 1:42:00 PM No. She just moved away and he followed her until he could kill her. Actually my story is a combination of stories put together as one story but it is true that all these kinds of things can and do happen within just one relationship.

Jan Allison Date: 3/17/2025 12:07:00 PM this is truly horrendous to know it is a real story Andrea and sadly there are other stories of women being murdered by their ex partner. many congrats on your win:-) hugs Jan xx Login to Reply Andrea Dietrich Date: 3/17/2025 1:42:00 PM Thanks, Jan

Joe Maverick Date: 3/15/2025 2:25:00 PM How sickening an act Andrea..And yet if we allow Sin to take hold of us.? Its possible for any human to do terrible things.' Liong live forbearance.' And the teachings of the God of Jesus's ministry should Not be witheld from humanity.' I can't say I like This write.' In the pure sense..Yet it brings realisatoin to the mind.' Well written' Login to Reply Andrea Dietrich Date: 3/15/2025 3:08:00 PM thanks. We need to SHOCK when writing about these topics. I was going to bring up bride burnings too, which still are going on in south asia, but it didn't fit in with the storyline of this poem.

Kai Michael Neumann Date: 3/14/2025 8:44:00 AM Awful, but a story that needs to be told, over and over again. Thank you for reminding us ...XXX Login to Reply Andrea Dietrich Date: 3/15/2025 3:08:00 PM thanks, Kai

Duke Beaufort Date: 3/12/2025 6:46:00 PM Andrea, the play on words you use for gas-lighting has potency and power. This whole tragic episode did not have to end this way if there was an intervention. I wonder what kind of childhood her husband had. There's usually a reason for psychotic behavior that we can trace back. We don't have enough qualified mental health professionals and people who are abused as children can harbor some terrible thoughts. I think men tend to be more aggressive so we might focus on that as a society. Login to Reply Andrea Dietrich Date: 3/12/2025 9:57:00 PM Thanks. I watch a lot of shows on this stuff. There is one series called Evil Lives Here. There are stories of kids just born bad. Like that old movie the bad Seed. Kids killing cats by age 5 , etc. Only in death will I learn the meaning of it all.

Oliver Mckeithan Date: 3/9/2025 4:28:00 AM Well written poem about an extremely terrible problem. There are some men who choose to do extreme evil. The sad part is that in some cases orders of protection do no good and the ex wife and/or children pay the ultimate price. Your poem should be published nation wide for everyone to read. Login to Reply Andrea Dietrich Date: 3/9/2025 3:33:00 PM So nice of you to say. Thanks.

Bj Legros Kelley Date: 3/8/2025 2:36:00 PM Terrifying. So horrendous. Thank you for sharing. Some marriages are made in hell, the devil stalking innocent victims to espouse, possess and destroy. Login to Reply Andrea Dietrich Date: 3/12/2025 9:58:00 PM Thanks for reading

Yann Rolland Date: 3/7/2025 4:34:00 PM some men are sick, and they call that love, a heartbreaking story really take care dear poet Login to Reply Andrea Dietrich Date: 3/7/2025 8:15:00 PM I will never understand that sickness of so many men. it's easy to see you are not among that group, Yann.