Nobody’s Property

I wrote this poem in 2019 in the run up to the 16 Days Of Action campaign which highlights domestic violence against women. For this reason I’ve given it a *** Trigger Warning *** I titled it Nobody’s Property I hope you find it a thought provoking read.

Nobody’s Property

When they meet at the dancing
he charms her, with silver tongued promises
a life beyond all she could ever imagine
he will be her hero
her prince, and her champion
as long as no man ever
gives her a second glance

she accepts his invitation to dance
Initally there are sparks,
they kiss all is bliss
though her friends have yet to be convinced
she is happy with him
and he treats her well
for now

but, after she moves in
the magic starts to fade
the wine and roses disappear from view
her mother and her pals told her
if something sounds too good to be true
then it usually is
on cold winter’s nights reality begins to bite
privately she can see all is not as she’d like it to be

he starts to tell her that her skirts
should sit below the knee
there are he says things only he is allowed to see
after all he is her man
he can’t have other guys casting envious eyes
on his property

her friends and family worry
she is becoming more reserved
she is not her usual self
they see a pattern emerging here
they know the difference
between respect and fear
and he has crossed the line

yet still she thinks the sun shines out of him
that she couldn’t live without him
when they raise their concerns
she is reluctant to listen
insisting that he is a good man
if only they’d give him a chance

then he gives her a slap
for contradicting his opinion
he didn’t want to hurt her
but she made him do it
yes his tantrum was her fault
in the world according to him

she forgives him at first
till the violence gets worse
and her friends realise
the black marks beneath her eyes
are not from badly applied mascara.
as she claims

ashamed by his conditioning
she stays for a while
hoping she’ll be the one to change him
till eyes run like rivers
and smiles are no more than memories
swept away on a tide of tears

Eventually she faces her fears
knows she has to leave
finally locking the door on abuse
she can be herself again
as she remembers, she is a woman. she is nobody’s property

© Gayle Smith 2019

Camouflage

This poem was written after an appeal from the women’s anti domestic violence charity Refuge and I sent it to them as part of their send a message campaign in support of women fleeing these terrible situations. I hope you enjoy what I think will be a thought provoking read.

Camouflage

There comes a time
when all the slights build up
like towers the kids built from Lego blocks
you know aren’t sitting right
yet still you hold on
the dream you cherished
on moving in together
still matters
and he can be a charmer at least he can in front of others
they don’t hear his voice raised in anger
or his drunken demands for intimacy
when his team loses the game
they don’t see the black eyes
you camouflage with so much make up
it looks like it was applied by a gardeners trowel
rather than brushes
or rubbed in by your own fair hands
you can’t stand back and watch the children cower
as they hear the screams
this wasn’t how it was supposed to be
when you walked down the aisle
all smiles on your happiest day
those dreams you once shared
now a llifetime away
a distant memory
like watching titanic wrapped in his arms
never thinking that his charms would hit the iceberg
sinking without trace as they did
but this is where you’re at
now with children dressed and suitcases packed
you take one last look around a flat
haunted by past memories
and nervous yet confident
you are making the right decision
you leave your key with your neighbour
as your savour the hope
this new day provides
when make up lights up
your complexion
they’ll be no more inspections
with a loud voice booming orders
as to what you can or cannot wear
there will be no need for camouflage

© Gayle Smith 2020