I want to talk about abuse
The kind that rattles a family,
throws them to the curb

The physical abuse that keeps a mom frozen
in her place afraid to make any movement

in fear of shattering in a thousand pieces

The verbal abuse that the daughter experiences
every night only to bleed out her sorrows instead of cry

The alcohol abuse that smashes up a dad’s car
leaving a crash wound deep in the marrow
of a worried family


The drug abuse that is pushed into the son’s
arm the dissolves along with disappointment
and hopelessness

I want to talk about abuse that rips families apart
That pushes entire families into despair
Not knowing which way is up, stumbling and
not being able to catch your self

I want to talk about abuse
Abuse that stands up to violence
putting an isolated cage to its end

Allowing freedom to outstretch her
wings
Brightening the horizon with her
gleaming smile