Like a programmed robot
I move through each day
Smiling and nodding
In just the right way.
Pretending I'm happy
And life is just great
When the truth of the matter is
There's just too much on my plate.
I feel like I got cheated
Out of living a good life
I'm poor and alone
And I'll never be anyone's wife.
I'm like that lone shoe
You see lying on the road
Alone and discarded
Like an unwanted load.
People pass by me
Staring with pity
Torn and tattered
Not an ounce of pretty.
The shadows in my eyes
Portray a battle lost
Nightmares and insomnia
Show surrender’s cost.
The physical scars
Have healed without a trace
But the mental emotions
Are still written in my face.
I'm a programmed robot
Struggling each day
Trying to hold my head up
And wishing I could fade away.
Loving newly weds,
Power games husband playing,
Soon to be annulled.
I thought you were my prince
Come to save my heart
To change my life
And become my missing part.
But you took my dreams
And tore them apart
You shredded my existence
Right from the start.
I was too blind to see
That you really didn't care
I sacrificed my pride
For your lying snair.
I walked away
With a broken heart
Wondering what I did wrong
To deserve your violent dart.
I learned the hard way
I was too good for you
And I never looked back
When I said we were through.
I have since moved on
And I've buried the past
Facing the shadows
Your abuse has cast.
The healing never ends
When abuse tears you apart
But the freedom you embrace
Is a peaceful start.
Domestic violence
The couple had nice tans, but she had a black eye
He was courteous towards her, tried to hold
her hand, but she refused to hold his hand
His face reddened angrily, and he got his way
Both were nicely dressed, meeting friends
No doubt they would tell a droll story on how
She got that Eye
Polite laughter, the men accepted the story
But the women exchange glances,
In the powder room, they will now know the truth
The unlucky one would beg them not to
tell anyone, saying he loves me, but has a quick
temper; when I nag him, he sometimes slaps me
But it always says sorry and begs forgiveness
Was on my way to sleep
But I heard tires screech
Then heard voices yelling
The tone was so foretelling
Domestic violence in the wind
“Open the door let me in”
Some more yelling again
Then silence as if a sin
I’ll lay awake longer tonight
Hoping everything is alright
When trust is broken
Feelings start fading
In love you become lazy or crazy
Can't confide in each other
A place of peace, calm or serenity
Now a battlefield, steadily pouring out aggression on each other.
Two hearts that caress and defend each other
Start bruising or humiliating each other
As they wrestle
The children watch, then start screaming
Don't forget it's a programming
Scrambling their imagination
Thinking marriage is a warfare not a welfare.
Domestic Violence
A stigma, a mind disrupter
That needs time and love
To eliminate the trauma it caused
Many more to say, but when words are too much;
It becomes void, say no to domestic violence!!!
I’ve lived and I’ve loved or so I thought,
came out broken, beaten and battered.
A false embrace a kiss of lies,
All loves games I bought.
Tried to be just who I am,
Not one would care to ease.
Friends, family or chosen mate,
Would bring me to my knees
Shut my mouth to obstruct the blow,
The Anger, fury and wrath,
The Inevitable Invisible tears will follow
Down the well known well lit path.
Gone is my spirit my wings my will,
Life no longer has meaning, only evil
No reason for happiness, to laugh or smile
The bruises will fade from a life so vile.
I’ve tried to be strong, I’ve tried to endure,
But the cracks in my heart are too deep to cure.
Every smile forced, every tear unseen
the battle recurs of a war routine
Shrink to the floor to block the blows,
The venom, the anger, the fury that grows
The bruises they fade, but the pain never goes,
I waste in the ashes feel my will decompose.
A life once lived, a soul once whole,
lost in the darkness of my own swallowed soul
No hope for a future, no light in the dark,
Just a lonely heart shattered, too broken to spark.
you were completely comfortable
being miserable
like pain was a roommate
like the yelling was a lullaby
like love was supposed to sting,
and silence meant everything was fine
he broke you in chapters
never enough to close the book
just enough to fold the page over
so he knew where he was up to
you wore makeup like armour
told yourself
“it’s not that bad.
he's just mad.
he loves me.”
but love doesn’t leave handprints
love doesn’t apologise
through locked doors
love doesn’t come home
smelling like fear
you were completely comfortable
being miserable
but comfort isn’t safety
and miserable isn’t love
so one day
she packed her silence
and left the echo behind
it wasn’t brave at first
it was shaking hands on doorknobs
a suitcase filled with
second guesses
fear braided tight
like her hair
she cried as she walked
on the road to nowhere
felt the weight of every “what if,”
every “he didn’t mean it,”
every “maybe i’m the problem.”
but she walked anyway
shoes worn thin
heart heavier than her bags
and maybe she didn’t know
where she was going
but she finally knew
what she wasn't going back to
It is her body by God, so they say,
But by man and by rite, she belongs to him.
The contract, black and white swirls, binding,
signed in ink that bleeds into chains.
He takes her as he pleases.
The decision is not hers to make.
Face buried, held by the ringed hand,
pressed into the pillow to smother resistance.
His knees split her legs, forcing them wide.
Fingers, wet with spit, force entry,
preparing her body for what she does not want.
Her muffled squeaks, please, no more—
trapped beneath the weight of an uncaring predator.
His release. Her shame.
The spot of blood staining the sheets,
a mark not of love, not of union,
but of violence written into law.
She will abide.
She will cry later.
She will wake, stretch sore limbs,
and pretend she was not taken in the night.
He owns her.
She knows.
And so does the world that does nothing.
The vows were a noose.
The wedding bed, a tomb.
And the law—
the law calls it his right.
And history will remember the cowards.
A little girl on her window seat,
dreaming about the things she can never ever feel .
A wind stroke flowing down the stream,
She knew not where her heart should be .
She was unaware of all those moments,
Until she heard that scream.
It was from her parents room,
Where her mother lost her self esteem.
The girl ran away full of fright ,
Trying her best to not cry,
But she couldn't believe her own eyes.
It was a scene she could not believe
she thought "how can my papa be so cheap?"
But little did she know that it was true ,
and it did not happen out of the blue.
Her mother was a warrior,
who was surviving this all through.
she gave up on her career,
so that she could marry this fool.
In the silence of the night ,
she clutched her teddy bear .
said"my god will make things right",
while she was giving up in despair .
Innocent looking girl,
with tear filled eyes .
gathered her courage ,
and smashed inside .
"THIS IS NOT RIGHT" ,
her father was surprised .
she stood up bravely,
while her mother was terrified.
The story came to a happy ending,
when the duo left him behind.
Became independent and strong ,
while a new Ray of hope aligned .
There's a gray elephant in the room
Out of mouth of babes truth zooms
Saying what everyone's thinking brain bloom
I only recall domestic violence as gloom
I was a tot when I walked up to demi-god
Could have been humbled by parental rod
I wanted to know why was he so mean to grannie
Why was it so loud why did he scream
Now that I am old I recall the light
From the bedroom that very night
Maybe forgiveness in her eyes
Maybe livid in his until my cry
He looked down as I looked up
Perhaps he found in me innocent love
He laughed and at that the yelling ceased
I was only two but he listened to me.
There's no debate. Don’t retaliate
If she makes you so mad, uses all the patience you had,
Dear son - Walk the other way!
If she hits you first , so your anger will burst,
If she blocks you, so you can’t leave, please believe,
My manly son – walk the other way !!!
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
He used his fists, I heard him shout
“clearing those temper demons out”
A bloodied nose, a blackened eye
Drink turns him into a violent guy
Black bruises fade, so does their pain
But the mental scars always remain
I want to leave, I’ve tried and tried
He drags me back, oh how I’ve cried
Held captive - I am a beaten wife
Who can’t escape this abusive life
Random Phrases Contest Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Miranda Hawley
06/09/2023
You were a weed that grew in my garden
Your throws grew, climbing up slowly-
Sharp enough, you penetrate my rose.
You took away everything that was pure and beautiful.
You swallowed my garden whole.
Now all that grows here is false beauty-
An emptiness created-
A barren land and a layer of dust reminding me of once was.
Intensifying the pain of dying innocence.
Yet there you stand, so radiant and bright-
Captivating a lover’s eye
Now you grow in so many different gardens,
Waiting for your next victim to be planted.
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