Habitual, adjective: done or doing constantly or as a habit, regular; usual.
Illustrious, adjective: well known, respected, and admired for past achievements.
Jumbled, verb: mix up in a confused or untidy way.
The raised voices
Habitually
The reverberating sound
Of flesh hitting
flesh
Illustrious
Woman’s soft heart
Used to forgive and forget
Broken
The children their minds jumbled
Learn
The responses given
The boy child grows up
Fiercely
To repeat his daddy’s crimes
Boldly
His wife cowering in a corner
Beaten
His children fearing his wrath
Reconditioned
The girl child thinks it’s normal
To be beaten and cursed
Her job in a relationship
To make everything nice
To turn the other cheek
So it can be
Struck
Again
Struck
Again
Behind closed doors
The secret remains
It cycles through generations
Again
And
Again
And
Again
It’s time to speak up
Teach our children
In communities in schools
If violence is not permitted
No raised voices in school
Then violence against women
Is
Forbidden
Too
Forbidden
Too
For only through condemnation
Can the violence be stamped out
Beginning in the minds
Of the next generation
Who can be better than us
And teach society
The way to behave
To loved ones
Is with
Kindness
And
Love.
Kindness
And
Love.
©Sheilagh Lee November 25, 2015