the woman gave Joan an address for a clinic
found her a place to stay for the night -
the area was finally getting behind
its women

too late for Mary


she died in St. Barnabas,
her children crying 
in the arms of their drunken father
who mumbled sorry, I'm sorry

newspapers reported
domestic abuse facts;
legislatures passed laws;
judges forced to act on petitions -
okay to evict violent spouses,
no need to press charges...

too late for Mary


from a phone booth
in her nightgown
babies in her arms
battered, bleeding
crying her needs -
what can I do
I'm scared, she said,
he's chasing me
please help me

it was early June, 1955
the city was not set up to help her -
there was no emergency shelter
no crisis center, no intervention
no one to listen


when Mary called.

Copyright, Barbara Gari Serio, 1997