Best Domestic Poems
I know its hard to imagine now
But some day you’ll be the key and not the lock
The exception not the rule
Some day you’ll be a source of strength to others
Even though today you feel so weak
You’ll be a voice amongst the starlight
And they will listen when you speak
I know it's hard to imagine now
When you’re feeling broken & so small
But one day you’ll be a mountain
And your pain will be worth it all
~ Louise Simpson
Under layers of pain wrapped in the hurt,
Under betrayal hidden from sight,
Pinned to her heart that’s broken and black,
Pinned to a feeling of spite,
She walks and stumbles and falls to the ground,
Naked she’s dazed, she’s stunned,
But her body no longer feels anything,
Her body’s emotionally numbed,
From all of the years of walk the thin line,
Domestically handcuffed to this beast,
Her mind was a toy for his psychotic games,
A game where her mind was the feast,
Now all she does is stumble and fall,
Bleeding her mental farewell,
Existing in a tragic life that has gone,
Living a life full of hell.
Dark heart
Onyx bruises
Madd lover
Entrapment fooling
Swollen lips
Teal tears
Indigo ears
Crying years
Violet prayers
In shelters
Only light
Love weathered
Emerald eyes
Need sleep
Courageous flight
Embracing peace
They believed a Capitol riot could make a loser a winner,
After failing, they cling to changing facts by terror and thunder.
Murdered me with your love
Murdered me with your lies
I could see the rage when I looked into your eyes
You told me that you loved me
but I just wanted to leave.
"Why can't you just be happy" you ask
While pushing me to my knees
Always playing the victim
You're good at playing that game
Lies of mistreatment; lies and untruths
All I ever wanted was away from your abuse.
That night I planned to leave
That night my plan was perfect
But you found out and rallied your crew
You said I couldn't leave, you said we weren't through
I managed to escape you
And locked myself in a room
But you had other plans
And I knew my fate was doomed
You pryed open my door
And I tried to keep it shut
But your crew breached the second entry
And I knew my time was up
You stood behind the gun;
You pointed it in my direction
You pulled the trigger;
And took my life
You took it with just one finger
You claimed my death was suicide
But we both know the truth
You continue to play the victim
But now they're on to you!
Written By: Kristin Bordelon
carrying chopped wood
to stack in our supply pile ...
my whole day splintered
We all like to think that if we were the victims of domestic abuse we'd up and leave - but it's not always as easy or straightforward as that. Women stay with abusive partners for all kinds of reasons - they love them, they fear them, they have children with them, they believe they can change them or they simply have no where else to go. - Kate Thornton
Although her tears were more real
than any words, any screams, the dreaded yelling
criticizing, arguing, condemning…
reckless words who failed to understand or recognize
the feelings, softly dancing, from the darkest fears,
pouring from the opening in pores where doubt stained
verses echoed the pain, the grief, the tears…
gushing like rivers, emptying the damaged spirit, the drenching
wounds warring with heartfelt yearning,
pleading for the light, the embrace of a caring
who cares? Who cares?
silent, he stands at the door, erasing the music from her tears,
reaching beneath the gentle, to a burial ground of loathing
a distant dream perches on her heart, like hope,
but not quite so sure…
she fails to hear him when he cries because his tears are swallowed up
in trails of painful injuries, silent thieves of joy,
agonizing, feeding on the past…
which was last seen screaming for feelings, bleeding quietly,
in the still, cool waters of abuse,
domestic violence, trembling on the lashes,
misty eyed and almost as dramatic as the stories
beneath the quiet graves, who roar with the assurance,
finally protected by the only One who could save her
from the shame, the pain, the despair…
burning in her eyes, tears fall… ignored by the one who hurts her so,
but wiped dry by the One who called her home….
so cry no more… cry no more!
the children are crying
again there's trouble in the house
their mother's in the corner all bloodied
and cowering like a mouse
the father, the husband
who calls himself the king
seems to only dispense verbal abuse
and violent beatings
the police have been called
but she won't have him arrested
she thinks her faith, beliefs
and vows are being tested
her friends can't understand why
she won't just get away
her family is praying that
he won't kill her some day
domestic abuse seems to be on the up-rise
yet society always seems to be shocked and surprised
you'll hear people say, "they seem like a very nice couple"
but behind those closed doors there's nothing but violent struggles
the children are always looking neat on their way to school
they seem very shy and the mother acts somewhat cool
but inside that house no one really has a clue
of the level of domestic violence and abuse
I am not a door mat to walk over every day,
I am not an object you can use and put away.
I am not some one just to benefit your self,
I am not a bank machine to help you with your wealth.
You say you love me but you hit me when your mad,
I want to be happy but you just make me sad.
You use me as a punch bag when nothing goes your way,
Your always shouting in my face I never have my say.
You keep me from my family take away my phone,
You say I should be grateful I'm living in your home.
I am a human you can't treat me this way,
You were supposed to love me not hit me every day.
Not call me names or take away my phone,
or keep me from my family making me alone.
I got the strength to tell you I'm leaving you today,
You start saying sorry and begging me to stay.
You stood there in my way blocking that front door,
I'm not fooling for it again I have heard the sorry before.
I look in the mirror see my two black eyes,
Why did I put up with this? it's time to say my goodbyes.
you raised your fist to punch me and hit me in the head,
but I pushed you away with all my strength and walk out that door instead.
Written: May 29, 2026, for a contest sponsored by Margarita Lillico
1st place contest winner
********************
O hallowed recliner, throne of my repose,
you cradle my chaos, you cushion my woes.
With cup-holder majesty, armrest divine,
you whisper: *“Forget the world, the remote is mine.”*
The computer hums like a loyal old pet,
its screen a sanctuary of Wi-Fi regret.
Emails parade like clowns in a ring,
while Netflix insists I watch *one more thing.*
Domestic bliss? Oh, surely it’s this—
a kingdom of crumbs, a fortress of fizz.
The recliner reclines, the keyboard complains,
yet comfort and clutter run through my veins.
So crown me with cables, baptize me in light,
let spreadsheets and sitcoms both bless my night.
For bliss is not roses, nor candlelit cheer—
It’s Wi-Fi that works, and a fridge full of beer.
Gaslighting
Your words are etched deep into my skin,
They must have hurt, these scars,
But you told me they were beautiful,
And I believed you.
Your accusations have ripped my flesh in,
My brain and heart, are stored in your jars,
But you said I was safe and beautiful,
And I believed you.
I am bones in a cage in a rusty bin,
I have forgotten my dreams, and the stars,
You said they were never beautiful,
And I believed you.
I am dust, in air spread too thin,
I float through the gaps in the bars,
I feel the warmth of a spark within,
The glimmer of hope from afar,
The shimmer of lights that begin
To glow, burn, blaze, char,
You towered over me, so beautiful,
I was so ugly and useless, you see,
But I somehow held onto the choice
To believe not in you, but in me.
i'd allowed you in again even thou my soul
was shattered god was quite displeased as you
hammered your dark fist against my rib cage
senseless i thought an yet you were forgiven again
even more than the last time i'd carefully packed
garments birth certificates and social security cards
while dripping tears and blood onto the blank pages
of my new residence a safe place chanted across
the empty lines then availibility how many beds
as we poured into the entrance the sign read safe
you are not alone an yet i'd left everything i was
centered in a room of over fourteen other women
quiet timid angry how we failed at making a male
happy within his own skin how he'd torn into us all
it was like the same man had beaten us all an yet
i knew only you calm cool collective when the cops
came taking you around the corner to cool off
where was i here in america why i was all races
all religions an yet i was harmed while the worse
part of my abuse was returning to my abuser
how you emptied me into silence covered in tears
black and blue an yet i missed you washing the bruises
with soft soap our children were shattered as i explained
daddy was ill he was sick he worked very hard to care
for us if we were more quiet well behaved he would
respond to our energy and love us deeply as deep
as i allowed myself to be abused this was america
oppression depression family ties became wrath
as i whispered he know's not what he does
we are loved as i planned a new home among strangers
an yet they were me i was all of these women a safe place
sorjournal truth home the harbor light inn the st angeline
christian center chaplins office the salvation army
cornerstone community outreach shelter the springs
outreach where was home in america as i embraced
you served you were ill you would someday change
abuse would become softer cycles will be broken
but here in the in this space in this place
and in this time you became plural that's all
as i soon became very small why i soon became
safe
Written by Mrs Yolanda Nicholsen
Domestic Animals
Cows in the barn was glad to see me at six in the morning
They mooed and waited for me to milk them.
Six cows to milk, yes I know it was a small farm and also
So very long time ago, yet clear as yesterday.
There was in the barn also a pig sty, a stable for the horse
Calves in a pen and they all wanted my attention.
Domestic animals are easy to please, just feed them keep
Their winter quarters clean and speak softly.
Domestic animals are so totally I our power without us
They would not exist in the form they are today.
In a compound a flock of sheep make themselves heard
They are hardy and want to get out snow or not.
So they are our responsibility and we must respect and
Love them, even if, at the end, we eat them.
Sucking away vitality destroying your soul;
His delusions and anger cannot hide what's inside;
Vehemence in the face of adversity his demeanor breeds fear
Apprehensive, what next? Violence erupts once again
Diabolical meanderings, picturing situations untrue;
Poisoning the atmosphere, with no thoughts visible to you
Twisting fact and fiction, in his mind, is it really true?
Jumping from conclusion to conclusion keeping his anger fueled
Is it guilt feeding his mind? His conscience troubling him?
Accusations stem from nothing! He really has no clue!
Shutting down emotionally turning numb thru and thru
He keeps the fire rolling, breeding contempt nothing new
Running from the fallacy, of what life really means for him;
Threats and ultimatums destructive to all on his whim;
Forces the confrontation another hell night to live thru
Stay awake, or hope and pray he falls asleep before you do?
Don't contemplate what harm sleeping may cause for you
Only retaliates is there nothing you can do?
Screaming although its late it's time to pay your dues
Demonstrates there is no debate, saying lies that are untrue;
Can anyone relate, to pain once it begins?
No way to escape fate, the broken record never ends;
Accept now what is, not longing for should have been(s),
what was, is not, what is, what a tragic end
There never was a what was, its an imagined should have been
I was contacted months ago by a person named Lauren Godly. She's a media student, and she asked me if she could turn my poem, Adored to Abhorred into a video. It's finally been completed. It's such a wonderful feeling when you know that your poetry can help make a difference.
Adored to Abhorred
from owned to dethroned
you led me
from queen to unseen
you hid me
once crowned to now bound
you kept me
absorbed to derobed
you left me
a spectacle to be gawked at
you jeered me
from diamond to dust
you threw me
once devoid of lust
you spurned me
and yet, here I am
naked
bleeding
dishonored
unwanted
here I stand
here I smile
biding my time a while
knowing as I do
the inner splendor shines through
I bathe my naked body
perfume every curve
comb out my raven hair
for I dare
This is swear:
None can usurp my throne
It's mine and mine alone
I climb the stairs
and they all stare
yes, they stare
so aware
the Queen has returned
your history’s been burned
I'm here
more beautiful than before
radiance galore
I see you
with flames of desire
once more in your eyes
you...watch me.....R^I^S^E
my glory emanates through
every idol set up by you
adoration's MY due
It is true:
discarded to lauded
I taunt you
demeaned to re-queened
I rule you
I reign, I disdain
don't be vain
your plea to return
I will burn
spurn
I'll watch you yearn
you can't take me back
I know what you lack
a heart and a soul
I won’t make you whole
Knighted to blighted
I see you
And so….
adored to abhorred
I leave you
Eileen Manassian Ghali