The Shattered Mirror
Do you recall a time when you were a child,
When your imagination ran free and wild,
Your dreams of marrying the perfect man,
One who would take you to a magic land.
Many years later when that day arrived,
You chose someone to stand by your side,
When he gazed in your eyes and said 'I Do',
At last your little girl dreams came true.
But somehow, somewhere, marriage went wrong,
A mockery was made of the 'wedding song',
Days and nights have all turned into hell,
Long past the sounds of a ringing church bell.
You reflect on a 'toast' with words 'long live the bride',
And now how you struggle with bruises to hide,
There was more to this man hiding violence from you,
Who inflicts on your body colors black and blue.
At a face once happy you stare at the mirror,
Reflecting now sadness at a life crystal clear,
All your friends have remarked of the changes they see,
And even yourself asks: "Is that really me"?!
Now quietly wondering should you continue to hide,
Or should you step forward and uncover your lies,
That the man whom you trusted with all of your heart,
Has in fact been tearing your whole world apart.
The decision is difficult but one you must make,
For the beatings will increase much more if you wait,
Realize now that you don't stand alone,
There are friends and strangers who will offer their home.
And do not feel guilty or ashamed of the fact,
That the person you married is way out of whack,
You have done nothing wrong and deserve to be loved,
Stand up for yourself and don't allow to be shoved.
Our country's overflowing from domestic abuse,
So please don't just shrug and say 'what's the use',
There are women who are willing to offer their help,
Hands reaching out because they've been there themselves.
So please don't allow your life to be wasted,
From physical and verbal abuse that you've tasted,
Don't wait till your name may appear in the paper,
The obituary contains those who stayed later!
