the portrait of a woman

Woman in a painting When she left it was snowing she left no snow print years passed like a stacked wood waiting for winter at permanent art exhibition in a painting by Paula Rego she was bigger now than before Etched in her face the abuse she the abuse she had suffered She had survived she left footprints that told of the misery of men but she wore no hatred in her heart I could no longer reach her with sweet whispers I believed her when she said it is for men, who abused to feel ashamed she walked out of her painting to a future bright