cycle of abuse poems

Little Pieces | Anna Hanson - Read Poetry Online by Talented Contemporary Poets

Little Pieces | Anna Hanson

In loving a monster, you lose yourself. You lose the way you laugh with the sweet taste of freedom on your tongue not too far behind. It is replaced with hushed fear of impending wrath and judgment from him. You lose the lovely sparkle in your eyes, which lights up your face. It is reduced to a dull, haunted look, frantically searching the crowds for him. You lose your optimistic attitude toward your life and those around you. You are now shaking with mind-crippling anxiety, your hands quiver with unshakable terror. Your confident stride is now a hunched shuffle. You lose your loving friends and supportive family. You are now in his premeditated isolation. You lose your bright smile, thanks to him. You regularly experience your stomach tightly knotting up. You are filled with unexplainable dread anytime he places a hand on you. His beautiful words are now empty promises. His generous compliments cease to exist and are now malicious threats. His icily calculating eyes lock on you and you feel an undeniable shiver. Like his fingers are forcefully entwined around your rapidly beating heart. Squeezing tighter and tighter. His voice no longer brings butterflies to your stomach. Only blood-chilling fright. You lose these little fragments of yourself every second, every minute, every day you spend with him.

A Visit Seeking Charity | Roy Pullam - Read Poetry Online by Talented Contemporary Poets

A Visit Seeking Charity | Roy Pullam

She moved uneasily
From one foot
To the other
Outside the Salvation Army office
Shouldering a child
Squirming in her arms
Her bruises still fresh
Her husband in jail
Once too often
His drunken temper
Struck out at her
The child wanted down
His impatience showing
The mother broken
Never in her imagination
Would she need charity
But here she was
Desperation vanquishing pride
Waiting for a food order
Some money
To pay the rent
Another woman
Passed her
Her plastic bag full
Meat, bread and can goods
Hazel smiled
As she welcomed
The reluctant lady
Soon tears
Accompanied her story
Hazel took her hand
Offering a prayer
And a shoulder
Hazel had heard the story
The plot the same
Only the names different
Filling the order
Giving a bear
To the boy
The woman thankful
Promising future generosity
When things were different
When her husband changed
She left
With a thanks
Over her shoulder
Hazel knew
She would be back
The story never changes

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