(a domestic violence poem)

she stumbled forward reaching for
the nearby wooden-paneled door
which in the night she could not find
she reached in front it stood behind
her gasping cries she swallowed deep
to keep her husband sound asleep
for if she cried therefore he'd wake
and in revenge her life he'd take
it was with courage mixed with fear
that led her path away from here
but when she missed the bedroom door
she wound up falling on the floor
and paused thereon to hush a wince
the floor received her sweated prints
with out a doubt she heard him stir
but her path set she'd not defer
and so with swiftness most adept
she down the staircase wept and crept
not til the exit did she stop
to recall what she had forgot
the baby left beside her bed
she gripped her hands upon her head
and with a sadness said goodbye
to freedom and went back inside
to slide beside the raging beast
who beat her senseless when he pleased
she'd been so close and yet so far
and wondered where he'd add a scar
but on that night she made her choice
to put away her inner voice

and though for baby she would stay
he took her life that very day.