Poems

we start with the excited chatter of childhood

slowly morphing into a more

sedate verbal pace

that blurs into a seductive murmur

as we meet the one of our dreams

blissfully unaware

that darkness mars our horizon

until that first whip-crack crash of the

thunder of their anger reveals

the insidious molasses-slow control

that arrived without our knowledge

disguised as love

then we speak in muted tones

eyes averted

thoughts shackled in paralysis and,

notwithstanding our submission,

the intense barrage of words

laced with accusations

are the first hint of the storm

until the lightning bolt of their anger

strikes without warning

to batter the woman without

and the child within into a closet

bolting and locking the door on our

sensibilities as we hunker down

to wait out the tempest

finally outrage roars

as we step away; are led away or taken away

and begin the process of releasing ourselves

from the binding chains of the abuse

and we cry, scream, rant and rave our way

towards sanity

then we cry, scream, rant and rave at ourselves

for allowing it to happen

then we cry, scream, rant and rave at the indignity

of it all

then we cry, and speak in muted tones,

then rediscover the excited chatter of childhood

as we find our voice

declare our independence

learn to love ourselves

and forgive