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

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.

Font size:
Collection  PDF     
 

Written on 1999

Submitted by nikkib.01179 on July 17, 2021

Modified on March 05, 2023

2:00 min read
5

Quick analysis:

Scheme AXXX BBCC DDXA XXX X EXXX EEFF GG AA HH X X BBIIX
Closest metre Iambic hexameter
Characters 1,907
Words 392
Stanzas 13
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 3, 1, 4, 4, 2, 2, 2, 1, 1, 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

1 fan

Discuss the poem Battered Lives with the community...

0 Comments

    Translation

    Find a translation for this poem in other languages:

    Select another language:

    • - Select -
    • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
    • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
    • Español (Spanish)
    • Esperanto (Esperanto)
    • 日本語 (Japanese)
    • Português (Portuguese)
    • Deutsch (German)
    • العربية (Arabic)
    • Français (French)
    • Русский (Russian)
    • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
    • 한국어 (Korean)
    • עברית (Hebrew)
    • Gaeilge (Irish)
    • Українська (Ukrainian)
    • اردو (Urdu)
    • Magyar (Hungarian)
    • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
    • Indonesia (Indonesian)
    • Italiano (Italian)
    • தமிழ் (Tamil)
    • Türkçe (Turkish)
    • తెలుగు (Telugu)
    • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
    • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
    • Čeština (Czech)
    • Polski (Polish)
    • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
    • Românește (Romanian)
    • Nederlands (Dutch)
    • Ελληνικά (Greek)
    • Latinum (Latin)
    • Svenska (Swedish)
    • Dansk (Danish)
    • Suomi (Finnish)
    • فارسی (Persian)
    • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
    • հայերեն (Armenian)
    • Norsk (Norwegian)
    • English (English)

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this poem to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Battered Lives" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/105152/battered-lives>.

    Become a member!

    Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

    March 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    3
    days
    19
    hours
    34
    minutes

    Special Program

    Earn Rewards!

    Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

    Browse Poetry.com

    Quiz

    Are you a poetry master?

    »
    Which poet is known for writing "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night"?
    A William Shakespeare
    B Dylan Thomas
    C Sylvia Plath
    D T.S. Eliot