If she cries then I will take her
with a half moon in her eyes
under the darkness
of the dream-giver skies
if she sleeps then you can
find her, curled beneath
his hands, like animals
playing dead
if she runs then try to catch her
use something with teeth
a trap to maim or break her
carry her back beneath
but if she lives, then she will
find you, and you won’t recognize
her stare, the stars have gone
back to their homes, and
a fire now lives there.
This poem came to me in a “steam of consciousness” as many of my poems do. I feel it’s about survival of abuse, and coming back stronger than before.
recovering motherhood 