Note: This section on Domestic Violence and Abuse
is as yet still in the "formative stages".
Please be patient as links are added and the finishing touches added.
Should you find yourself or any member of your family in the situation below -- for the sake of your family and yourself -- take flight while you live. You have nothing to lose by staying except your life. You have everything to gain by leaving -- the safety and security of the rest of your life for you and your family.
She fights her battle alone,
her only weapons those of self-defense.
She knows that if she makes
the slightest move
to shield herself
her attacker will indeed be angered.
To anger him in his fit of rage
for which no real cause may be understood,
will only cause the rage to spin unchecked,
and may indeed, one day,
be the cause of her death.
The child above, watches unseen,
ghostly pale,
as the horror unfolds
before her innocent eyes.
She knows not what her Mother has done,
to anger Daddy so,
only that Mommy cries and
Daddy drinks and hits and yells and kicks,
until Mommy lays not moving.
And when Daddy is mad, he hits,
he slaps, he kicks, he pushes, he shoves,
he yells, he calls mommy bad names.
And in the end, when the police come,
because the neighbors have had
enough of "their peace disturbed",
Daddy is even madder.
Once again the ambulance comes,
taking Mommy away to the hospital.
Once again, the nice policemen come,
taking me out of the range of danger.
For when the policemen come,
Daddy says, "she started it,"
and pointing at me, finds me not there.
For I know the hiding places
which will keep me safe
until Daddy is gone and I am out of danger.
The longer they talk,
the more frightening his anger,
until once again,
they put cuffs on his wrists
and take him away (how I wish, forever).
He will be back.
He will hurt her again.
Again she will be defenseless.
She has no champion to take up her glove,
no defenders are there for women abused.
For in the foray in which she is beaten,
repeatedly, for various reasons,
no one "wants" to "get involved"
in a fight which to them is senseless.
Take up your weapons!!
Gather your strength!!
Let these be your defenses.
When next you battle,
do it not alone,
for one day he may kill you.
When you repeatedly submit
to unfettered rage,
you do yourself no favor.
Your child sits like a silent ghost
in a haven where she finds safer ground.
When you submit, you harm your child,
and worse, you harm yourself.
So, bear arms against the battle waged,
your "army" shall be your "strength".
Get your child and for the sake of God,
get out, get away, and be safe.
For one day you will
the battle lose, and
who do you think
he will seek to harm then?
He will hurt your child,
he may kill your child,
and then what will your submission
have gained you?
Leave this house while you still may,
you and the child you love.
Leave, while there is still time,
while you both are still "alive".
For the day may come,
when he truly knows "no bounds"
and what then, if he surely kills you?
Copyright 1994 - Katherine Braswell Dial
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