her pride
her will
her heart
she swallows
hard
his power
his rule with
iron fist
and lashing tongue
harsher than any whip
he beats her down
to nothing
till nothing
and no one
can save her
till she exhibits the proper behavior
till she fears him
more
than she can love
till her love
is the lie
that keeps her
afraid each day he'll leave her
though she should leave
for a breather
at least.
he shaves and shears
at her humanity
he scathes and scares
her closer to insanity
removed her from all things familiar,
nothing of herself
he let her save
reprogrammed her mindset
and how she behaved
made her depend
so she couldn't leave
any spark of free will
he had up his sleeve
some reason
some trick
some barrier
to her success
he wore the pants
and she was his mistress
or missus
or mrs.
however you please
he had her in distress
down on her knees
she was his "partner"
but she had to beg
to let him allow her
stretch out her legs
and learn how to walk again
remember how to talk again
to live
to love
to be
he says "i love you"
with hate in his eyes
he had a rough childhood
but that's just his guise
to make her swallow
hard
his power
his rule with
iron fist
and lashing tongue
harsher than any whip
she is much stronger
than he lets her believe
if he hurts her much longer
she'll have to leave
or her heart will be rendered useless
to their kin
she's already broken
he's underneath her skin
she hurts
so she hurts
it's a cycle she must break
it's only a matter
of how much more she can take
and how long she can swallow
hard
his power
his rule with
iron fist
and lashing tongue
harsher than any whip
she prays daily
asking for this cup to pass
plays joyous homemaker
should any choose to ask
no bruises
no scars
from the hurt well placed
in locations where the pain
isn't easily erased
buttons get bigger
easier pressed
waiting for the day
she is laid to rest
and all that remains is his will
in her body
where she just lies still
and swallows
hard
his power
his rule with
iron fist
and lashing tongue
harsher than any whip
when she breaks free
there is no if
her esteem will be
her greatest gift
and her legacy will say
she released her hate
and she left him to be
someone truly great
even if only
in the life of her son
for it is in his name
this battle must be won
for he should not learn to swallow
hard
his father's power
and his rule with
iron fist
and lashing tongue
harsher than any whip
but
learn how to walk again
remember how to talk again
to live
to love
to be.
(c) 2009 L. Ashwood