Analysis of Battered Lives



She awoke on the floor, all achy and sore
The last thing she remembered, the last thing that she saw
Was a fist in the face, from the man that she loved?
Sometime before that, she got a kick and a shove

It's all her fault, at least that's what he said
Before he struck her, and left her for dead
She dragged herself up, she was hurting real bad
"What have I done?" she thought, to have made him so mad

She must try to be good, and do all she can
Being a good mother, and loving her man
She washed her bruised face, not looking at all
She then froze with fear, when she heard the front door

"I'm sorry love, it wont happen again"
"I've brought you these flowers, I have been under some strain"
(Oh he is sorry, he loves me I know, if I give it more time, our love it will grow

A few days go by and every things fine

"Hello baby, had a good day? I have cooked us some stew
"I will serve it now if I may?"
"YOU CALL THIS FOOD"
Said her lover with hate, throwing the meal and smashing the plate

She then froze with the fear of what he might do
Him smacking her face till it's all black and blue
He grabbed at her throat, and he tightened the hold
She felt herself weaken, her blood running cold

"YOUR UGLY AND USELESS, CLEAN UP THAT MESS"
"AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING WEARING THAT DRESS?"

He threw her aside, and she fell to the floor
Gasping for breath, she saw her son, only four

"Don't hurt my mommy" said the boy, in a tearful cry
"I will be better, I'll be good, I will try"

"GET OUT OF HERE BOY, BEFORE YOU GET SOME"

"It's okay baby, go back to your room, go on run"!

The last thing she remembered, was a foot to her head
Now she don't feel anything, (am I, am I dead?)
She is then looking down, she can see her own grave
There was her son, (Oh he is being so brave)
(Oh my God, what have I done? I have left my son,  without a mom


Scheme AXXX BBCC DDXA XXX X EXXX EEFF GG AA HH X X BBIIX
Poetic Form
Metre 10110111001 0111010011111 101001101111 10111101001 1101111111 0111001011 11011111011 111111111111 11111101111 10011001001 1101111011 11111111011 1101111001 1111101111011 1111011111111111101111 01111010011 01101011111111 11111111 1111 101011100101001 11110111111 11001111101 11101011001 11011001101 1100101111 0111101011 11001011101 10111101101 1111010100101 11110111111 1111101111 111011111111 0111010101101 11111011111 111101111011 11011111011 1111111111110101
Closest metre Iambic hexameter
Characters 1,907
Words 392
Sentences 9
Stanzas 13
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 3, 1, 4, 4, 2, 2, 2, 1, 1, 5
Lines Amount 37
Letters per line (avg) 39
Words per line (avg) 10
Letters per stanza (avg) 112
Words per stanza (avg) 29

About this poem

In 1999 I was asked by a friend to write a poem covering the subject of domestic abuse, for his current project, having pondered on what to write over the next days, this poem came flooding to my mind one afternoon, and when I reread what I had wrote, I was taken aback at the emotions I felt.

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Written on 1999

Submitted by nikkib.01179 on July 17, 2021

Modified on March 05, 2023

2:00 min read
5

Nicola Baxter

I have wrote many poems over the years, poetry has helped me express what I could not express verbally, and has helped me grow inwardly. I have written poems on many different topics, some humorous stories in poetry form, and some deep meaningful and emotive ones, inspired by events, and from personal experiences and what I witness and observe that has moved me in some way. more…

All Nicola Baxter poems | Nicola Baxter Books

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