you threaten with bullets and blood
so you'll be the last to own her
nothing you would not do to satisfy
the corruption of your mind
you threaten with bullets and blood
and strike her with menace and fear
in a deceitful posture you call to God
as your witness you will change
you threaten with bullets and blood
after standing in church with raised
hands to heaven and tears flowing
freely from a claimed forgiveness
you threaten with bullets and blood
forgiveness she gave in full
patience she offered complete
with a hope for a different end
you gave her bullets and blood
on the couch after she yelled your name
to warn your child to flee from
the house in the practiced way
you gave her bullets and blood
she gave you love and children
never again one more time
share her flesh, marital bliss
you gave her bullets and blood
©Eusebeia Philos 2013
Written as an anaphora for dVerse Poets ~ Listen To This: Anaphora
Note: This horrible event happened a couple of years ago in our small community. I knew the couple well. The makings of this poem were written days or weeks after the murder as I tried to understand what cannot be understood.
A really strong poem.. so sad truth of men and their violence... why some men do so is beyond me, but somehow its all a game of exercising power...
ReplyDeletefrig man...hard verse....like the subtle turn to you gave her, from threatening...though it is a harrowing tale...ugh...way to tackle a tough one...
ReplyDeleteOh, this hurts. And happens all too often. Very effective, condemning write, Eusebia.
ReplyDeleteFeeling every bit of this. The sadness and rage of the writing for both victim and perpetrator. Really well done.
ReplyDeleteSo haunting and painful -- beautifully written.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me so mad... hypocrites like that who go to church and then beat their partners. Powerful!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a refrain & a heartbreaking story ~ Like the turn from you threaten with bullets & blood to you gave her bullets & blood ~ Really well done ~
ReplyDeleteThis is really strong. You rocked the prompt, made it your own. I agree with Laurie....this makes me made too!
ReplyDeleteDomestic violence is becoming a problem in many societies and one of the main causes of murder.Guns drugs and alcohol are a bad combo.Men have to overcome their primitive Neanderthal concepts such as thinking of women as their property.
ReplyDeleteCressida de Nova
This is a very powerful poem with a strong message. Very well done and I wonder when will the violence stop???
ReplyDelete