Dirty Dishes- A Poem
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This is dedicated to the victims and survivors of domestic abuse. This includes those who have been the victims of physical abuse, verbal abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional torment.
A man looks down
upon his wife, her
purple eye glued shut
with crimson paste.
How disgusting,
the rise and decent
of her broken rib cage,
neighboring death.
He came so much
closer this time, but
its not his to to
finally be rid of her.
He heads to the kitchen
to pour a shot to toast
himself for a noble attempt
but every glass is dirty.
He grabs his key and
heads for the bar. He'll
finish her off tomorrow.
The bitch has work to do.
Tammy Swallow from Passion's Weather Fields 1998
Help for Domestic Violence
- Domestic Violence-How to Help
Many victims of domestic violence are willing to talk about their relationship when they are approached in a kind and understanding manner. But don't confront a victim if the person is not ready to talk. Let the person know you are willing to listen - Domestic Violence - Domestic Violence and Your Health - MSN Health & Fitness - Kids\' Health
Includes FAQ sections about symptoms risks tests treatment options medications prevention and management resources and more. - National Domestic Violence Hotline
A Touching Rememberance by Just Ask Susan
- Remembering The Fear
A Poem About Childhood Memories and abuse. I remember the fear I felt deep inside. So many days wishing I was not alive.
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Hi Romari.. Glad you liked it. Thank you for being the first to comment!
This one brought tears to my eyes Tami. Wonderful and real. Voted up.
Simply outstanding Tammy. I hope it is okay with you I am going to post a link to your poem and video on my Facebook page. Bob
Such a sad thing--you did a wonderful job with this piece--so well written--and often we see through the victim's eyes--to see through the abuser's eyes adds another level of palpability (is that a word??) to this piece---
Love it Tammswallow:). Omg - have I seen that in reality.....I think those ladies should grab the keys and hit the high road when hubby's at the bar!
Thank you Robert.. I appreciate you posting it.. Thanks for the kind words!
Thank you Cresentmoon.. I have done a lot of work as a woman's advocate and this comes from the pain of not being able to change the mindset of abused women.
Thank you Audrey.. compliments from a poet of your magnitude mean so much!
RealHouseWife- Thanks for reading. The sad reality is that so many woman are just too damaged and won't ever leave an abuser...even if they have children. It is something that breaks my heart..
Hi, so powerful, that was an amazing piece coming from the abusers point of view, very chilling and sadly so real in so many cases, the saddest thing is that the abused is so mentally worn out and scared they can't do the one thing that saves them, walk out of the door, nell
So true Nell. It is so sickening that so many people in this world feed off of the weak. There is a special place in.. for these people. Thank you for stopping by!
Minor proofread. Check it out and then scrap this comment. Mr. P.
Thank you Perspy. I like all the help I can get. Think I fixed it.
Such a sad reality.
It is sad.. espessially for the children. Thank you Susan.
A very interesting piece Tammy.
Thank you Casgil.
Intense, well done and awesome! I just published a letter to Farrah Fawcett hub and I wrote about abuse in their due to her movie the Burning Bed. I then thought...hmmmm it would be cool if I could find a hub to link to it and I just did! Thank you:)
Thank you. I means alot. I have been warned about this hub and all the ads have been disabled. I wish there was more creative license here on hub pages and they could better distinguish what is "poetic" and what is just inapppropriate. I appreciate it my friend!
Crude and real! Thanks for the awareness about this topic that affects both sexes.
LORD
Great point Lord, it does affect both sexes. Males have a huge disadvantage when it comes to domestic violence. They are not allowed in shelters and there are no programs to protect them. Plus, there is a big stigmitism if they do complain. Thanks for that and thanks for reading!
tammy this piece is absolutely beautiful. I've always wondered how any man or woman could harm the person they consider their soul mate. When my wife left me several years ago she told me the reason was that I mentally abused her by keeping her down. What was funny was that when I meet her some 20 yrs before she was 18 and drinking and doing drugs and getting the you know what beat out of her by this guy that was 15yrs older than her. I had met her through a friend of mine and trusted her enough to let her move in with no questions asked after some time we became close and she realized that I cared for her and she eventually cared for me. For 16 yrs that we were married I gave my all taking care of her, her family and a baby girl that she had when she left me to return to her partying lifestyle. During the entire time I struggled keeping food on the table and a roof over her head while working two jobs and when I broke my back she walked out because she had to get a job to support the household so my question to you who do you thing was the abused and the abuser I never asked for it I wanted a divorce when she had the baby seeing it wasn't mine but I stepped up and took responsibility for a dope dealing friend of her family that knocked her up while I was out working. I still care about her and the little girl who will be 21 in January and she is mine by heart even though not by blood. I dont regret doing it but when your down where are all those people that you literally break your back to help and I broke mine physically.
Thomas,
That breaks my heart. There are so many good men out there that give so much to women who are inherently damaged.
There are some things you just can't love out of others no matter what. Bless you for trying. It sounds like you gave it your all.. but the damage is irrevocable. It sounds like you made a big difference in the life of a child so all was not a waste.
Thank you for stopping by and sharing your story. You give a lot of hope that there are still wonderful caring people out there in this world.
Sad topic. Beautifully written.
Thank you Daisy Mariposa. Perhaps with our hubs, we can reach people and help change the things that trouble us. I appreciate you stopping by!
Such a powerful poem that hit the spot without a doubt.
Sad there has to be situations like this but it's reality I am afraid.
Thanks for sharing this gem.
Take care my friend:
Eddy.
Excellent poem Tammy. It's a shame that many women live this ugly reality.
Thank you for your comment Eddy. I think we all have to address the things that bother us for the good of all. I appreciate the read!
It really is Gypsy.. and especially sad for the children. Thank for your comment.
excellent poem. Tammy. Great use of line breaks.... really enhances the message!
Thank you so much PDX!
you're welcome, Tammy!
Eeew, and that's for the sad reality this brings up. Otherwise, powerful words. Voting this Up and Interesting.
It is not a pleasant subject is it Alocsin. Thanks for the read and your vote!
(very long pause) Still pausing , , ,
Aww.. thanks tsmog. This is a tough one. Thanks for visiting.
Wow! This was a powerful poem! I found this due to Vinaya's interview of you. I don't think that any additional words are necessary in this poem. These few words say it all and point out the horrors of domestic abuse. Voted up and useful. Tweeting this!
Thanks so much for the read Peggy W. It means a lot!
Wow - that is all I got... very powerful!
Thanks Barbergirl28. I appreciate the read!
HI Tammy... what a shame when you see visions of a man standing over a lady with intent to do harm. Maybe the best cure for him is after he has completed his beating is to toss him into a room of real men. Sometimes the best medicine out there is the hair of the dog.
Well written Tammy... a special hug to all ladies who have had this done to them.
Hugs from Canada
Well done Tammy... a hard read in the morning but certainly one that reminds me of the need for love and compassion.
The hidden wounds take time to heal.Only love and understanding and never ending support helped someone I love deal with her problems.Years may never erase the pain but in your heart you can find a way to move on.I always like to think on the way home from the bar a hit and run driver gives the abuser the justice he deserves.Especially when he seen it coming.Deeply emotional and real to life poem.
Among those dirty dishes should have been a cast-iron skillet. A victim of abuse has a right to defend self. I feel so sorry for women, especially, who are afraid, or do not know how to walk away from a possible killing. Too many stayed around too late.
I was a victim of domestic violence, but one day I was forced to defend myself, and soon after, I walked away forever. I admit that I should have left sooner, but I was in love, uninformed, and thought that the problem would get better. To make a long story short, he is well, but he will meet Jesus with some permanent tattoos.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting Rolly. I think your suggestion is the best so far.
That is some very deep and poetic justice for abusers Dream On. Your comment is beautiful in itself. Thanks so much for reading and sharing that powerful statement.
Good for you Levertis!! So many women have such low self esteem that they stay in these torrid situations. I think that girls should have self esteem classes early in childhood or something to help those who don't obviously learn what is acceptable in their own homes. Thanks for your thoughtful comment!
I connect to such misery... I have seen it... And seeing it has broken my childhood mentally...
Sad, morose, Fragile
A soul lost, bereft in exile
Is God blind or too ignorant
His child someone's mother faces such torment
I urge thou to supply me valor
I wish to kill such vice I cannot see her more pallor!
Great work! The message should be out!
Very nice! Thanks for spreading the awareness! :)
That is beautiful rahul0324. I too have seen it and it drives me to anger and makes me want to change it. You should turn this into a hub.
Thanks so much HattieMattieMay! :)
The message was there and unfortunately the fear as well. I've seen it in my own youth as my mother was badly abused if a meal wasn't placed before the monster hot. If it was not to his liking he threw it across the room and pushed her to the floor to pick it up. I cried a lot as a boy, very poignant piece my friend. It drew up some very sad bad memories for me as a boy.
I am sorry it brought back bad memories Vincent Moore. These words come a very dark place that I too wish I could forget. Thank you so much for reading and sharing your thoughts.
This is a reality. Very interesting Tammy.
Vincent Moore:
I can identify with your situation as a boy. My ex-husband was a habitual cheater and did not mind telling me that I should understand that all men cheat, and it did not mean that they were in love with the other women. It was all just fun, he said.
Once he was getting ready to go on his usual weekend trip. He never told me where he was going. He just said that he would visit friends. Before he left one day, he asked me to cook one of his favorite meals and he would be back soon to eat it. He asked me to cook the meat for two hours. He gave me instructions because he was an excellent and practiced cook. I did as he requested and tried to make everyting else perfect because I thought that he would spend the weekend at home. I was excited. He left on Friday and came back in the early hours of Monday morning. He tricked me in order to leave without a protest. To teach him a lesson, I had cooked the meat for hours, and would have cooked it until he returned, as he requested, but I did not want to burn the house down. The meat was burned to a crisp and was as hard as the pot that it was stucked to. He was so angry at my gesture of punishment for him that he threw me across his lap and spanked me until he was tired. I weighed 105, and was 5', 4", and he weighed 220, and was 6',1" by comparison. I suppose I could have avoided the abuse, but I was so hurt by his constant tricks he played to get away. The irony is that he was a law enforcer.
Thanks Unknown Spy! :)
Wow Levertis,
You have been through so much. It is a shame that people are so abusive and take advantage of the love we have for them. I am glad he is an ex husband! Have you ever thought about sharing your story to empower others? I am glad you shared this. I am sure it will help those in that same situation. Stay strong and thanks for reading.
romari 5 months ago
thanks for the great hub!!very interesting though its the reality