poems written by survivors of domestic abuse
These poems were written by survivors of domestic abuse. They reflect their fear,
pain, confusion, grief, and other emotions experienced as a result of domestic violence.
The Black Velvet Glove
The hardest to bear isn't the slap or the shove,
It's the sting of the words, like a black velvet glove.
It tears at your soul and your heart cracks in two,
What you've become is not really you.
You know that you're good, and you know that you're kind,
But you feel like you're going out of your mind.
The look of disgust, the names and the sneers,
Has this really been going on all these years?
It started so small, just a fight... some name calling,
You couldn't see the black hole into which you were falling.
He took all your dignity, who you were, and your pride,
In your shame and your pain, all you could do was hide.
Hide the fact that the man who promised you love,
Took it back and replaced it with the black velvet glove.
By: "C"
Stop The Violence
Written in celebration of my freedom and dedicated to a face from the past.
She was a shell
Empty and alone
Where could she go?
Who could she tell?
Was easier to stay
To accept defeat
Everyone told her
That's the way it should be.
They all looked away
and left her alone
they turned their heads
to any broken bones
They told her to be strong
for that was the plan
Her only goal
should be to please her man
She did her best
She gave it her all
When asked "What happened?"
She said
"Oh, Just a fall"
Years went by
she learned to adapt
she learned how not
to make him mad
She learned how to please
Just what to say
She learned to make sure
HE had a good day
Those looking on could not see?
Would not see?
The pain that was so deep inside of me
Was it easier to just look away?
Distance and time
closed for me
there was a hand that
could be reached
A hand with a face
from the past
A hand that only for a
short time would last
I held on to that hand
with all my might
I pulled myself up
I learned how to fight
A year has past
And now I see
just how wonderful
life should be
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