rage of mothers

you suffer with your children
as you watch them wilt
under the indifferent eye of their father
his words like knives
thrown
straight at the heart

you see on tv every day
yet, another man
facing time for
yet, another crime
against a woman
and, he gets off scot-free
a finger wag
"don't do that again"
slap on the hand
and, off. he. goes.

while mothers are left to mourn their daughters
and their daughters mourn
who they were before
if they didn't die

your children look at you
with eyes that scream
why didn't you save us?
i could not even save myself
i would not leave you
in that barren place
to face the endless pain
alone

the rage of mothers
is an infinite well
drink from it