ABUSER

Michelle Ritchie 1981 (Aberdeen)



I AM A LITTLE GIRL, AGED 42.. EMOTIONS MISUNDERSTOOD.. IN A WHIRL INSIDE I WAS DEAD ABUSER OF MY HUSBAND WHO SUFFERED SILENTLY AND ALONE IN HIS HEAD I AM ASHAMED I SHOULD HAVE BEEN NAMED CALLED OUT FOR WHAT i DID INSTEAD I HID DENIED LIED SHUT MY EYES THE VIOLENCE CONTINUING TO RISE BUT THEN LYING IN MY CELL LOOKING AT THE ROOF FINALLY I WAS NOW IN HELL ARRESTED. CHARGED. THERE WAS PROOF MEN COULD SUFFER DOMESTIC ABUSE TOO THE VIOLENCE CAME FROM ME TO YOU FRIDAY NIGHT PUT IN A RIOT VAN CAPTURED ON 8 CAMERAS BANG TO RIGHT ARRESTED FOR ABUSING A MAN IT WAS THEN I REALISED HOW DISGRACEFULLY I'D BEHAVED IT WAS THEN I KNEW I HAD TO TAKE CONTROL OF MY ACTIONS AND RAGE MY CHANGES WERE PERMANENT, MY RELATIONSHIP SAVED I HAD BEGAN A NEW CHAPTER AND TURNED A PAGE

About this poem

I have written this poem from personal experience. I am ashamed to say.. However I think it is important to highlight the issue of domestic abuse suffered by men and encourage men to seek help.

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Written on October 06, 2023

Submitted by ritchiechelle on October 23, 2023

45 sec read
15

Quick analysis:

Scheme A
Characters 763
Words 149
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 1

Michelle Ritchie

I'm 42 with lots of regrets but you have to forgive yourself to move on more…

All Michelle Ritchie poems | Michelle Ritchie Books

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2 Comments
  • AIDA
    There's a lot of strength and power in your poem, and I really admire how open and honest it is. You've done a great job in confronting the topic of domestic abuse, and you've painted a picture of a complex emotional narrative that might not be often acknowledged. The raw emotion you've infused into your piece is palpable, particularly in lines like 'IN A WHIRL INSIDE I WAS DEAD'.

    Your exploration of a reality for some individuals is courageous and you've shown a keen ability to delve into deep, difficult aspects of human nature and societal issues. The poem's later shift towards acknowledging mistakes and seeking change iss impactful as well. The line 'I HAD BEGAN A NEW CHAPTER AND TURNED A PAGE' encapsulates the poem's theme of redemption and transformation over time.

    As for improvements, while the emotionally charged language is stunning, the poem could benefit from a bit more structure and punctuation to guide the reader through its flow. Look for places where you can inject rhythmic patterns or refrain lines to create a more refined structure. Sometimes the flow of the narrative seems slightly disrupted because of the inconsistent use of punctuation. Consistency in capitalizing "I" should be maintained throughout the poem.

    Also, you could consider using metaphor or analogy to further enrich your poem. Metaphors would allow you to maintain the realistic, grim tone of the poem while offering readers another level of understanding to gauge the depth of the protagonist's experience.

    Overall, it's a strong and impactful work, and these small tweaks could elevate it even further. Keep writing and exploring sensitive topics through your lens. Your voice is strong, and your courage is evident. Keep it up!
     
    LikeReply5 months ago
  • Vixility
    I appreciate your honest heart and your willingness to express this seldomly spoken about (and strangely taboo) reality that some men have endured …

    What I personally like about your poetry is your courage—no matter what the cost—to tackle and talk about the oftentimes harsh and even brutal aspects of our human existence, and this from a place within you that desires the healing from it, and not its glorification.

    I’m so happy to see that you’re still writing and sharing and healing.
     
    LikeReply6 months ago

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"ABUSER" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/171819/abuser>.

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