It’s Promote Yourself Monday at the Go Dog Go Café!
Other women get flowers from their lovers.
You bring me
ice packs for my
swollen, ugly face.
I tell them I
fell down the stairs.
But there are no stairs leading anywhere
except
to the Abyss where
love used to live.
You said you wouldn’t
hurt me again.
Other women would leave;
I bought a gun.
So the last line would’ve been, “I called the cops.” Have you ever been in an abusive relationship? Calling the cops can get you killed.
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Also, the cover image of your book, along with the title, makes it one I’d pick up from a display :)
Having been to that ‘Abyss where love used to live’ way back in the past, I’d never want to go there again. Thank goodness guns aren’t so easy to procure in the UK or there’d be a lot of dead men.
Oh, this is scary — to wield a weapon for one’s safety is powerful but the intermittent danger makes it so sad too.
-HA
“other women get flowers but you bring me ice packs” says so much. i’ve been there and i’m sorry if you’ve had to go through that. buying a gun and they know you have it is a necessary step in some situations. very powerful poem
There is no end to this… the only other options is to run away I think… I hope that such men are exceptions, but it seems to be more common than we think
Yes, Bjorn. We have to be vigilant and watch for the warning signs. Still, running away means you’re always looking over your shoulder. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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Sadly, I have spent too years, living in the Abyss, with one particular family member. Who did everything but sexually rape me. Only by moving away to another part of Ontario, have I escaped his physical presence in my life. And yes, there were times, I wanted to kill him. Especially, on those nights, I am struggling with PTSD flashbacks.
Thank you, for expressing the anger that many abuse victims suppress. I do hope that this has helped you, in your own healing process.
I’m sorry to hear about your time in the Abyss. Therisa. It took guts to leave and I applaud you for that. Thanks for stopping by and take good care!
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Ice packs…
even if he brought flowers, it wouldn’t mean he would change, anyone willing hit or shove will do it again. Run run run, but that is hard to do. Good to recognize no one should have to put up with this. Powerful write!
Ergo, the Ogre 
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