The Thin Red Line
_______________
Hidden in a box where nobody can see
Piece of metal no bigger than a finger
Silver, exquisitely fashioned
Honed to a sharp edge
Hiding away in a room
Out comes the metal so no one can see
Bare skin, undisturbed by time
Meets the metal
Thin red lines
All across the skin
There is no pain
Just a sense of relief
And then it is done
The metal placed in its resting place
When will the next be
Nobody can know
_______________
January 27, 2000
Can you hear my voice…
Even though it just screams out in my mind?
Can you see my tears…
Even though I only cry inside?
Can you feel my pain…
Even though it is hidden in me?
Can you understand my life…
Even though I never reveal it?
January 14, 2007
She looks around
To see if he is there
To assess the situation
To gather information
She hides
To protect herself
To keep him away
To disappear
She thinks
To consider the situation
To plan
To hope for an end
January 13, 2007
Over and over,
Sent to bed without dinner
“Is this what you want?”
“No more!” she cries…
Again and again,
Their screams invade the quiet
“Is this what you want?”
“No more!” she cries…
Once, twice, thrice,
The belt comes crashing down
“Is this what you want?”
“No more!” she cries…
The punishment is gone
The screaming is gone
The belt is gone
Yet, they live on in her memories
“No more” she cries…
July 11, 1998
Lying alone in bed
Praying for an end
And there he was…
Deep beneath the blankets
Pretending to sleep
And there he was…
A little girl
So frightened and confused
And there he was…
A terrified teen
Trying to stay awake
And there he was…
For so many years
Fighting the tears
And there he was…
Nowhere to run
Nowhere to hide
And there he was…
Just like always.
June 1, 1999
The Edge
Standing on that bridge
Thoughts tumble through her mind
Take that last step?
Plunge into the abyss?
An end to the darkness
An end to the pain
She turns around
And sees a distant light
She turns back to the edge
Looks down
Standing on that bridge
Those thoughts run through her mind
January 3, 2007
