Held him up when he was drunk
and hugged him when he cried.
Although she’d grown to hate him,
her wedding vows employed.
She praised his dim opinions,
believed the lies he told.
Ignored what he had stolen,
replacing what he sold.
Stood the many moods he’d swing,
held whist when he complained.
Shouldered all his alibis
when he was rightly blamed.
When fired up, she’d let him burn
though he never would atone.
When all had abandoned him,
was there to take him home.
Endure the names he called her
and caught him when he fell.
As if she from heaven sent
when pulled him out of hell.
Exhausted from his failures,
she made his weary bed.
Her lap, his loving pillow
where laid his sorry head.
His queen when of no kingdom,
his all when he without.
His saviour when defeated,
his hope when he in doubt.
Her days, to keep him sated,
her nights, to please the brute.
Pretending satisfaction,
he’d snap if knew the truth.
When sought the church for guidance,
“To wed, is one to slave?”
“Offer up your miseries;
be brave, my child, be brave.”
Screamed when felt his leather belt,
when kicked and called, a whore.
Wailing in her agonies,
to bleed out on the floor.
Where now’s the bitch to serve him,
to be at his behest?
Foul mouthing at her tombstone,
but she, at last at rest.
“Her battered flesh, her penance;
her sufferings for Christ.”
And so, preached the parish priest,
as if she sacrificed.
-
Author:
Tony Grannell (
Offline) - Published: October 16th, 2026 08:47
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 15
- Users favorite of this poem: sorenbarrett, Paul Bell, Tristan Robert Lange, Friendship, Teddy.15, Kevin Hulme
Offline)
Comments7
Brutal and vivid this poem depicts the past place of women and a wife. Well worded my friend it carries power and a sense of injustice so it would seem. That last line might be taken two ways and leaves a question in the mind from the lines before :
"Pretending satisfaction,
he’d snap if knew the truth."
echoed by the line:
“Her battered flesh, her penance;
her sufferings for Christ.”
It seems to me there was something else going on here. A great write my friend.
Hello, Soren,
A devout Christian woman abused, verbally, physically and sexually 'till murdered did she part when the clergy had the final say in Ireland, not so long ago. Divorce was illegal and the wedding vows were sacrosanct. As now and always, your words are greatly appreciated.
Fond regards,
Tony.
Raised in a religious family that although not Catholic felt the same about marriage and only in this generation have there been any divorces. As far as I know no cases of abuse of that level but abuse is a silent beast that hides in the shadows and is not always seen. You are most welcome and wishing you a wonderful day my friend
How many women live this life.
You would think if there was a saving grace, he would at least die first, alas not.
You can see why they get poisoned or end up with a knife in them.
The world over, Paul, women battered and bruised by brutes and how they get away with it. Very kind of you to drop by and it is very much appreciated.
All the best,
Tony.
Jesus, Tony. This one made me angry, and rightly so. The cruelty is horrifying enough, but the religious justification makes it even more infuriating. Nobody should ever have to endure that kind of abuse. Powerful and heartbreaking, my friend. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
And angry you should be, Tristan. Terrorism in the home. Thank you very much, my friend.
Fond regards,
Tony.
wellwritten
Hello, Friendship,
Most kind of you and very much appreciated, my friend.
Fond regards,
Tony.
Impeccabile rhyme and such a powerful theme, a woman's place is beside her husband but alas she should only be put on a pedestal, I've seen both types in my life. 🌹
Hello, Teddy,
Treated like beasts of burden in the homes of brutes. As always, your words are very much appreciated.
Fond regards,
Tony.
Reminds me of Mr Murdstone in 'David Copperfield'. A Horrid Man who sends David's Mother to a early Grave.
A fine write as usual.
Hello, Kevin,
Murdstone, an antagonising brute. Would fit well into this poem. Very kind of you to drop by.
You are in fine fettle, I trust,
Tony.
Not too bad . Thank you for asking. I hope you are Well too.
A great piece Tony. Raw, covers the topic of intimate partner homicide, the abuse and degradation which preceded it. Very prevalent today, and although the piece portrays the wife as all suffering, dedicated to her husband, I would suggest that now it is not that kind of self sacrifice which binds her to him. Impossible economic circumstances give her no choice.
Hello, Dave,
You are absolutely correct, no choice but to stick it out because of financial problems, especially so when there are many mouths to feed. Thank you very much for dropping by, always welcome.
All the best,
Tony.
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