domestic disturbance
one gin too many
one pun too funny
their words are arrows
that strike to the marrow
his fist in her face
explodes womb-red behind her eyes
punch-drunk they pace
a grotesque tango of accusations and lies
her throat between his hands
he squeezes until all grows faint and dark
breathe.. breathe in.. breathing quicksand
the tiles so cold, the overhead light stark
somewhere someone’s banging on the door
she hoists herself up from the floor
his badge glints in the moonlight
thank you, inspector, everything’s alright
the next morning her smile is in place
she wears too much concealer on her face
her sons are laughing and rolling on the lawn
Saartjie is clattering dishes in the sink,
her headscarf bright as the dawn
tell me, Saartjie, as one who prays, do you think
that God’s grace truly goes on and on?
July 8th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
What a great piece, it has been a long time since I laid eyes on such a great read. Wonderful.
July 8th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
thank you so much, lebohang
July 16th, 2008 at 8:45 am
wow! as a woman who stands just besides this box of abuse and not inside as some of our unfortunate sisters do, this poem has opened my understanding once again and shown me that sight never sees beyond vision, hence one needs such INsight to know and hopefully write more poems to encourage and fortunately save our women, one female at a time, from the tyranny they are forced to consume emotionally and the pain they are made to digest.
thank you for the inspiration.
much lyrical love, tumelo.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
thank you, tumelo
let us hope that abused women will speak out and speak up and continue to do so until the choir of voices can no longer be drowned…
September 21st, 2008 at 5:30 am
Watter een van die “fokkers” was dit?