This one night.
There has been a monster in this room
I can smell him
He is not huge or black or hairy
He is right down next to me
Every day he sits beside me
I can’t seem to get him off me
The stench is overpowering
And threatens to engulf me
It has already paralyzed me
This monster called fear
I don’t know where the next blows will come from
Or in which way my face will be rearranged
I’m not sure what we will have for supper
Is it rice, or red cheeks
That have been slapped over and over
I have been told to leave him
To get another life, a better one
But every time I try, make an effort
Whenever I cry enough is enough
And then try to launch forth and sail away
The monster grabs me and holds me
He threatens to choke me
And I am left to continue as I have been doing
Hoping against hope
That this time we shall have rice for supper
And my bloodied and bruised face will be given a rest
At least for this night
This one night.
Physical abuse…very bad thing it is!