Silence
Blessed Silence
Eyes tightly closed
Long devoid of tears
One hand cradling her
Aching swollen jaw
The other one gingerly
Holding her torn
Nightgown together
She huddles in the
Corner of her bedroom
He is gone
Within the darkness of
Her fear, anger, and hate
Despite the pain and despondence
There still flickers a tiny little
Flame of hope
Maybe even of love
He didn’t mean it
It was the alcohol
Without a job he takes
His anger out on me
He did tell me
He loved me
But deep within her
Own soul she knows
He will not change
Words mean nothing
His actions tell her
It’s time to leave
-
Author:
Alfred Peyer (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: August 14th, 2017 02:22
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 73
- Users favorite of this poem: Bibbeck
Offline)
Comments12
This sad story is so often repeated - I never can understand how men (and women too) can ever act like this to their fellow man (or woman) . Being very politically correct aren't I. This is such a sensitive write about such a difficult problem - great stuff Fred
Thanks Michael,
I never experienced anything like it, but tried in my imagination to understand what a woman might go through. It does happen too often, and it is SO WRONG!
ALAS FRED In Urban Domesticity ~ there is a fine line between LOVE & HARM and domestic violence is all too common. Ladies turn up bruised at Church on Sunday Mornings ~ We give them tea & TLC but have learned not to ask too many questions ! BUT sometimes enough is enough and it's TIME TO LEAVE ! Thank GOD we can give them Sanctuary in a Safe House. Thanks for sharing Sad Message in an Elegant Poem ~ BRIAN. Please add a POEM to my FUSION ~ CARS ~ Thanks B
That's shocking really, Brian. Yet we can't be 'twee' and assume it NEVER happens to church-folk. What is monstrous is if the offending partner is there in church too. Echoes of 'hypocrite', I hear! I must not be naïve to think that ALL churches are made up of little old ladies (or little old men).
Thank you Brian. And you are bringing up a very interesting aspect. If they show up bruised, and you know they have been beaten, and if you have to give them sanctuary, do you report that to the police? Domestic violence IS a crime. I know it is not easy at all, sometimes 'he says', 'she says', kids can be involved, but still....a crime is a crime.
Hi FRED ~ Its not so much as REPORTING them to the POLICE or Social Services but informing the Authorities ~ if action is taken' Our local YMCA is a FOYER so all Residents have to be registered with the Social Services ~ the same is true of Ladies admitted to Battered Wives Sanctuaries. For Husbands or Partners to be charged the Ladies often have to make a formal complaint which they are often reluctant to do ! Legally it is a minefield ! BRIAN
Minefield is a good word to describe this situation, and every once in a while it is too late and somebody gets "blown up". Sad.
A beautiful job of imagining yourself in her shoes Fred ... so well expressed! It is a deplorable circumstance and all too common.
Thanks Louis, I guess I have an over-active imagination! 🙂
And it is a subject that should be addressed more often and openly, rather than broomed under the carpet.
Such a good write over s very sad situation, I just do not understand this type of violence, or any type of violence come to that. Why, oh why cannot we live a peaceful existence.
Thanks Goldfinch, violence has been our cross ever since Cain. Seems to be part of our gene. Even though, a man hitting a woman just is NOT acceptable.
tell us what is the story behind the story Fred. beautifully written
Thank you Avigail. See my answer to Michael's comment. This story sprang from my imagination. But having said that, I am concerned about domestic violence and wanted to expose it in my poem. It was never a concern in our families, but going to school in the fifties, I had class mates who would sometimes come to school with visible signs of violence. Nobody did anything. At that time it was accepted as "normal", and nobody else's business. Yuk!
It's the alcohol that does it - affects the mind. Causes people to act like monsters. Of course, we can't blame the alcohol itself. it's only a 'thing'. People drink it, and too much at times. A fine write.
Thank you orchidee, yes, the alcohol brings out the ugly side of people. But the ugly side has been there even before the drinking started. Then the alcohol takes away the inhibitions and the "real" person emerges.
An all too familiar pattern in this troubled society is seeing a female bearing the brunt of domestic violence - a fine reminder of woman's tragic position at these times Fred.
Thank you Fay, you are so right. While there are certainly cases of males getting beaten up by females, I think they are the exception. Unfortunately it is the female that is the receiver of violence. But there are also the kids. And since violence seems to be in our genes, I just do not see any way to stop this completely.
HI STEVE ~ They ar not Church members who have been assaulted but ladies from the Community who have come to the Church for Sanctuary because they know the Men are Gentlemen and the Ladies Angels. As a Church we have access to Safe Houses for Battered Wives ~ Salvation Army and YMCA for under 30's Violent Men hate to lose their hold on vulnerable Ladies so we often have to face violent Men ! In my experience all churches are Sanctuaries for those in Society who are hurting ~ OK BRIAN
Firstly respect to Candlewitch for sharing.
Also respect to Fred for broaching this subject and expressing so brilliantly through words from your imagination. Fantastic!
I've been there too, but with mental 'abuse' instead in the form of controlling - this doesn't have physical marks to show. I had managed to pick the same sort of person as my Dad (as we do) in a relationship. I wouldn't focus on abuse of women though, as I also have knowledge of the opposite side - it's just even more swept under the carpet, because it's not seen as being strong. 🙁
The 'reason' this all comes up time and again and is never going to go away, is because although intelligent, we are still animals essentially. There is no 'excuse' despite this for the instigators, such as drink, etc., but only respect for those with a will to change.
Thank you Bibbeck for your honest and open comment. You are so right, there is absolutely no excuse and all too often these crimes are swept under the carpet as you say. It just seems that violence is part of us, no matter how much we try to stamp it out.
Excellent expression of a horrible circumstance.
Thank you so much WBL for your nice comment!
In my rich and colourful life i've actually been on the other side of this. My lovely partner of 8stone (112lbs) and 5ft 5 used to get so wound up she would attack me. i didnt retaliate for i knew i'd be arrested. The marks on me, she couldnt seriously hurt me, were the evidence. Twice neighbors called the police. I've never spoken about it. I wrote about her in joey played saxophone. Understanding is diffiicult because she was the love of my life. That poem says it all.
Thank you so much for your comment, b-e. As already mentioned above, violence is not limited to one gender.
Alcohol, for some people, is the only way to have a temporarily break from what they are suffering. They need the break to survive, like a drowning person would grab anything he could reach, even though, that something might get them killed. I do understand them. It is a tragedy for everyone involved in it. Thank you for bring it up.
thank you so much for your comment, mam!
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