Written by Barbara Barker
December 11, 2014
Reading in the Barbados news of a cutlass attack on a mother by the father of her two young daughters, prompted me to compose this poem. I would like to dedicate this to all SURVIVORS of DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, as well as in memory of those who did not make it.
Why do you hit me if you say you care?
Why must I always cower from you in fear?
Why do you beat me day after day?
Why if you love me, do I have the urge to run away?
Why must I suffer in this marriage or love affair?
What could I have done to warrant so vicious an attack by you?
Do you have any answers for my children and me?
Speak them out loud, for I know neither a reason nor have a clue.
I have given you my heart and my soul,
But your actions have made them turn bitterly cold.
What ever happened to love, and cherish, and to hold?
Remember those words, to me, in front of many, you told?
How about, “let’s stay together” until both of us grow old?
This is not the way our love story was meant to unfold!
Together we have children, for goodness sake,
What lessons from this violence should they take?
If I die from my injuries, you would have taken away their mother.
When the police catch you, prison will take away their father.
By your vicious actions you could have made our children orphans.
Now when all is said and done, and maybe you had time to think
I hope you realize that our children’s emotions will be put on the brink.
With all the brutality I suffered by your hands, I lost my dignity and pride
But, my spirit is fighting to survive, so that I can return to my children’s side.
For I know that with their innocent love, I will overcome this rough ride.
Living with domestic violence does not only affect you and me,
but also our children, our friends, and our families.
In relationships there will be disagreements, quarrels and shouting too
But why do you resort to insults and cruelty and so easily lose your cool?
Your actions let society know you are nothing but a BIG bully and a damn FOOL.
My advice to women is that there should be ZERO tolerance towards DOMESTIC VIOLENCE! You MUST break the cycle. STAND UP! SPEAK UP! Seek help before you become the headline on the news, or on the front page of the early morning paper. |
