The Shadows Beneath the Stairs
For The Love Of Poetry Contest
Sponsor: John Lawless
The shadows beneath the stairs is what I believed to be my hell.
There I was, countless nights, too injured to show my
true face. If only I had been loved instead of being damaged.
I sat there. I cried there. I mourned there. I died there.
Lost in maltreatment I thought I could survive that last time.
Broken and made imperfect from his morose doom. How could he think
he would get away with ending his wife’s life? I was born innocent
and I died dirty. Filthy essence of guilt and fear. I dreaded
when the work day was over. I dreaded making the kids hide
in the corner. Now my sweet children are suffering
without a nurturing mother to comfort them the way
they need and deserve. Oh, the revile that scorched me
morning after morning and night after night.
I was ashamed while he was proud….
I was repentant while he was around…
Disconnected a connection for the pleasure of my pain.
Here I am, above the clouds overseeing the actions
of a monster who decimated his supposed soul mate.
My blood was shed while he stood there
haughty and content with the outcome. I thought I loved him
like roses, and needed him like breath. He hated me like
like an inferno and he needed me like pleasurable torment.
If only I could’ve seen the truth behind the destruction
maybe I would’ve survived this tragedy. But no matter what
I am protected now. My children are safe now that
he is behind bars, deserving the punishment of the
consequences of his immoral wrong doings.
The shadows beneath the stairs is what I believed to be my hell.
I sat there. I cried there. I mourned there. I died there.
Date Written: April 6, 2016
|