Domestic Violence Poems: After Years of Abuse She Found Her Voice To Speak and Poetry Recorded it

Domestic Violence Poems: Her Story Might be Your Story

Regardless of when, where, or how it occurs, violence against women seriously violates their human rights. According to the statistics shared by the Orange3-6-5 Campaign, 1 in 2 women have experienced or will experience intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetime.

It went on to further state that in Guyana, the first national survey on gender-based violence revealed that more than half (55%) of all women experience at least one form of violence. Domestic violence is a recurring and significant problem in the United States as well. This blog post will examine the issue through the eyes of one poet.

Domestic violence is when one spouse or partner in an intimate relationship uses physical, sexual, emotional, or economic abuse to control the other spouse. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) whose stats are strikingly similiar to that of Guyana, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men will experience domestic violence during their lifetime.

The CDC also reports that over 1 million children witness domestic violence every year. There are many different types of abusive behaviors that may be present in an abusive situation: verbal abuse, intimidation, threats, physical violence, and more. Domestic violence can affect anyone regardless of race or socioeconomic status. The following poems taken from the poetry collection, Underneath the Poetry with Her Dairy, explore these topics and more:

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For So Many Women The Story is The Same…

Despite this piece focusing on one woman’s story when it comes to violence against women, so many women can claim this as their story too. This is my way of giving voice to women who are too scared to speak up or too isolated to be reached.

Her Story

my intuition told me
something was not right,
my experience calculator
in situations like this
was not adding up
the numbers correctly.

i respected her need
for privacy and
her need to heal,
but every so often i couldn’t
resist the urge to probe
and prod and ask
some of the hard
uncomfortable questions.

then one day
out of the blues
she opened up
to me and told me
her story.

he was her first
he broke her heart.
he gave her
a taste of true love
then he gave her reasons
to taste her blood.

he was privy to her true beauty
and then
he did everything
to tarnish it.

he kicked her
like a stray dog,

he locked her out
of their love nest,

he slept with someone else
in their marital bed.

many days he took her
to hell and back

and when she returned
he promises he would
never do it again.

but he did it.

again, and again
and again!

until she lost count
of how many trips
she made to that
forgettable place.

she has little or no
visible marks of violence,
her skin is almost spotless,

smooth as a baby’s bottom
but the scars
in her heart,
its too much
to take in
all at once.

when she finally spoke
from the heart
i felt her pain,
i heard her silent tears,
my heart bled profusely
with every graphic detail.

she didn’t cry then
because she had cried
so many times, before.

as i pen these words
i am crying the tears
she knew so well,

the tears burn
my drenched cheeks,
so deeply i wondered how
she survived it
for so long
all those years?

good look and good body
don’t tell you the authentic story
i’ve learned that physical beauty
should never be the sole
barometer by which you
love and assess a woman.

some beautiful women
are burdened with some
of the darkest
and most damaged souls;
and as harsh as this sounds,
it’s the brutal truth.

some of us men have lost
our moral core,
we don’t know how
to truly love and respect
our women anymore.

“At any given moment you have the power to say this is not how the story is going to end.”

― Christine Mason Miller 

Domestic violence awareness through poetry

Underneath the Poetry with Her Diary brings awareness to domestic violence through poetry. It is a powerful poetry collection for those who have been victimized by domestic violence. The poems in the book address topics from abuse to recovery, from fear to hope. This collection of poems was written to tell the stories of survivors of domestic violence. It addresses topics from abuse to recovery, from fear to hope.

Some Men See Violence as The Only Solution

No woman deserves to be abused in any form for any reason! But many women continue to be victims of physical and mental abuse at the hands of the very men who claim to love them. Some even took them to the altar and made a vow.

Bitch Slapped

he said
he had to
bitch slapped me
so i could catch
my falling senses.

i was losing respect
and
i was losing my way.

he said he had to
bitch slapped me
to bring back
the angel in me.

“When it comes to abuse, you believe there’s no way out. There is always help. There is always a way out.”

― Rev. Donna Mulvey

Abusive relationship

In today’s society, cases of abusive relationships are becoming a common occurrence. The most common type of abuse, as it is the easiest to identify, is physical abuse. There are many signs that a person is being abused, including injuries, isolation from friends and family members, depression, anxiety, and fear.

Abusive relationships are not always physical. Sometimes the abuse comes in the form of words. This type of abuse can be difficult to detect because there are no visible bruises or wounds on your body. If you find yourself in an abusive relationship, it is important to get out immediately.

When there are no more Tears

For so many women, tears no longer matter. They have cried so many times before, and their situation remains the same. So much insensitivity to the reality they face, so many suffer in silence.

Cried-Out

she is crying
tears
but her well is
dry.

so teardrops
aren’t falling.
she has now become
immune to the lies.

how much more
can
one woman
endure?

how much longer is
this
going to last.

“The enemy doesn’t stand a chance when the victim decides to survive.”

— Rae Smith

Her Diary: A True and Trusted Companion

Some people who experience domestic violence keep a detailed diary of the abuse they experience, in addition to keeping evidence of the abuse. Diary entries can include anything from what happened to how they felt after the event. Advocates often advise victims to keep a diary as it can be a powerful tool that can help them recover from abusive relationships and work through their trauma.

Only My Diary Knows

so many
untold stories.
so many
pearls of shattered tears.

so many
drops of blood.
so many
painful bruises.

only
my diary knows
the
real stories,
only my dairy
knows the saltiness
of my tears
and the colour
of my smeared blood.

only my diary knows.

Today, Because of Domestic Violence Poems, Her Voice Resonates

Family and Loved Ones can Feel Their pains

Domestic Violence is often called the “silent crime” because so many victims suffer in silence. But it’s not just the victim who suffers. Domestic violence can also affect children, other family members, and friends. The pain of living with someone who abuses you takes a toll on your mental health and well-being. You might feel like you’re to blame or that nobody cares about what’s happening to you. It’s important to know that the feelings are not your fault. And there are ways to get help without hurting yourself or your loved ones.

Crying Her Tears

i sat there and listened
to her story,
and i wonder:
how she survive all the years?

how she managed to
smile so gracefully?

how she retains her
effortless beauty?

now i’m left crying her tears.

it’s the daily burdens she bears
and
the unspeakable pains,
it’s the thoughts i find hard
to vocalize.
i see the pain in her eyes.

now i’m left crying her tears.

“The more that we choose not to talk about domestic violence, the more we shy away from the issue, the more we lose.”

― Russell Wilson

A diary of abuse

Every year, over 3.3 million women are victims of domestic violence in America. To help cope with the abuse, many of these victims keep a diary of their abuse. These diaries can provide valuable insight into the feelings and thoughts of these people.

Diary Insurance (Just In Case)

just in case
i don’t survive this
my diary
will live to tell
my ghastly tale.

just in case
i’m too weak to speak
my diary
will be strong for me.

just in case
the scars are
no longer visible
my diary
will show the magnitude
of my hell.

just in case
no one believes me
my diary
will show them
the unseen evidence.

please secure
my diary
it has been my
unconditional companion
and sense of hope
all these years.

“I now see how owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do.”

— Brené Brown

The System is Culpable Too

Domestic violence against women is a growing issue in the United States. This issue arises from a systematic lack of support for those who are victimized by their partners or spouses. The system within which we operate as a society, with its many expectations and pressures, contributes to this problem by creating the fear of judgment and fear of abandonment that leads victims to stay with abusers longer than they might have otherwise.

Domestic violence is often thought of as solely a private matter when in reality it is both public and private.
A pervasive cycle exists wherein systemic inequalities contribute to domestic violence against women. Around 30% of interpersonal violence is committed by intimate partners. The system is complicit in the abuse of women by men since it provides a means for men to assert control over their partners.

This Fucked-Up System

the judge said,
“give it one more try”
and
i believed in his
intellectual judgment.

the counsellor said,
“together you can work it out
it’s never too late”
and
i gave it
another try,
AGAIN
hoping she was right
this time.
i was wrong!

the preacher said,
“take it to the lord
in prayer,
get down
on your knees and pray,
repent and get baptized”
and i did.

but
after all this advice
i’m still in
the same shit!

the beatings
are flowing now
like showers of blessings-
should i say
thank you lord?

“Each time a woman stands up for herself without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.”

— Maya Angelou

Domestic Violence Poems: A Call to Action

In conclusion, domestic violence poems are a way to bring awareness of the prevalence of domestic violence and inspire action from those who have been victims of it.

By sharing these poems, we can help break the silence for those who have been living in fear and shame. Families and friends of victims should also be aware and take appropriate steps to help their loved ones, such as ensuring they have access to resources like shelters and support groups.

It is imperative that we take action against domestic violence to not only end it but end the cycle of abuse. It is important that we all do our part to stop this vicious cycle.

We can become allies, donate or volunteer for shelters, or even write or recite a poem about what happened to us in order to help others who are experiencing the same thing. It is important that we take action against domestic violence in order to end it and prevent the vicious cycle from continuing.

What can you do today to help a victim of abuse? Share it in the comments section below.