Say Goodnight

We stayed up all night
huddled beneath the small bed
convinced he would appear
cloaked in a pissed stained sheet
dragging that gimp leg a step behind

Palms pressed firmly over our mouths
we heard his ragged breath
through the chimes blowing in the breeze
Felt the floorboards creak
beneath the weight of his swollen gut

"He's coming for us, isn't he?"
she whispered to me
"Shhh, he'll hear us and break through the door."
A grunt outside announced his presence
and a soft swish of a belt released

"I'll kill him," I thought
when the door squealed open
His black boots tracked mud
across the old hard wood floor
then stopped at the edge of the bed.

Her terrified squeal exploded between fingers
as his knees and fists hit the floor
Cold grey eyes peered across the short distance
untouched by the sick grin plastered to his teeth
His breath, a toxic wasteland, blew the eyebrows off my face

One large hand tugged hard on my leg
sent me sprawling along the splintered floor
Half second later he reached under again
Spotted the metal lamp atop the desk
Grabbed hold while she kicked and screamed

So drunk he didn't notice the cracks in his skull
til the blood pooled thick underneath his cheek
With the last twitch, our nightmare died
His dick still hard from the thrill of it all
hanging out of his unzipped jeans

Author's Note

This was inspired by a writing prompt I found in my email today.

Reviews

[Philip Muls]

Fierce, violent, authentic.

Horror and relief. Anger and concern.

You trigger a range of emotions.

Well done!

[Michelle Coleman]

That was the sort of response I was hoping for. Thank you, Philip. 😊

[Writer at last! Sky ~]

Was a very imaginative and thrilling lines, I like it nice wrote.

[Michelle Coleman]

Thank you, Skyfall. 😊

[Writer at last! Sky ~]

Welcome friend!

[poetry-kiddo alienbaba]

This eye-opener, this heart-wrenching poem of yours...with the pace of a thriller movie...
yet somehow somewhere a warning...this tis could maybe be the fate of all those brutal hearts who indulge in deflowering of angelic saplings of God on this Humanoid infested piece of hurtling rock we have got our selves bound to.
The terror in the minds of the young ones is so evident as if in virtual 4 dimensional reality...and the horror of the culprits entrance has been so very well captured and described by you in your own wonderful descriptive manner.
The ending was a bit..uh..
i could not digest it too well...though it was written so very well...
you go on girl..
you struck Gold with this one

[Michelle Coleman]

A thriller movie, huh? I can picture it actually.

The whole damn poem was unexpected, especially the ending. So I get it. 😊 we hear heart-breaking stories on occasion about children killing a parent. It is a sad and crippling reality too many young people experience. And then carry into adulthood if they have not gotten the help they need.

Thank you for the review.

[poetry-kiddo alienbaba]

Do stories like this happen in reality?...im shocked..was the man the parent??
where i come from...this will be a slap in the face of society

[Michelle Coleman]

Yes, unfortunately, things like this happen in reality. The man depicted in this poem, I imagined to be the step father.

It should be a slap in the face of society. But mine often turns away from ugly things rather than addressing them. Victims still walk around in a fog of guilt and shame.

[poetry-kiddo alienbaba]

yes so very true

[Gerry Legister]

Inspired images of brought into the reality of life with witted realization and clarity, its an awakening that makes you see the intensity of diverse lifestyle

[Michelle Coleman]

I have never viewed child abuse and rape as a lifestyle so much as a compulsion.

Thank you for the review, Gerry.

[Nerf]

They say monsters are figments of our imagination... Well your imagination just slayed many a monster that people have been haunted by for years. I can feel hear the screams through palms, I can cut the tension in the room with a knife, I can feel your heart beat and I can take satisfaction in your sigh of relief when the nightmare has ended. Keep writing cause i'll keep reading!

[Michelle Coleman]

Nerf, thank you! I love hearing that my poem came to life for upo. That is a great compliment.

[Nadia B.]

You have serious talent to be able to write about such things with such clarity. Honestly I am impressed by your skill for I don't think I could ever write with such talent and raw emotion. You tell the story as it is without sugar coating it, you make the reader feel as if they are actually there present at that moment, that they see everything through your eyes. I read fear in every one of those lines and then even at the end there is no pause for relief, simply more realization of what could have been. I truly hope no child has to suffer such terrible things, it is every kids biggest nightmare, and yet somehow you manage to not let the reader close their eyes in fear but actually face the demon you describe. Speaking of the survival of the children, it in some way makes one feel empowered, that even those two scared children could defeat such a great monster. You are a very very strong person, thanks for sharing, and please keep writing! Never stop opening peoples eyes to reality...too many of us have drifted into worlds of pure illusion and fantasy!

[Michelle Coleman]

Never say never, Nadia. One day you might surprise yourself. 😉

Thank you so much for your open and heart felt review. You have made my day.

We all wish children never had to face such atrocities. My goal is to pull everyone out of those illusions and fantasies so that children are never left behind to cope on their own.

[Ronny]

Wow. I won't act like I'm this reviewer that knows all the technical things.
I'll just give you my state of mind and sincerity.
When I first read the headline I was awaiting something warm and cosy, instead you turn it around and give us a cold dark night, and I like it.
With the few words you give us the pictures are flying threw my mind, a story is made.
Thanks for sharing!

[Michelle Coleman]

The title is a misleading, isn't it? 😊 I know it is a pretty intense piece and I am glad you enjoyed it. Though enjoy is probably not the best word. 😜

Thank you for your review.

[Ashley]

I like it reminds me of my own work

[Michelle Coleman]

Thank your,Ashley. I will have to check out your work.😊

[Ashley]

That would be awesome, I don't have much work up at this time. I just joined yesterday .

[Michelle Coleman]

Later this evening I will be sitting down to do some reading and reviewing. I will definitely visit your page.

[Ashley]

*thumbs up*

[Nadia Gerassimenko]

What I like about your poetry is how brutally graphical you are from start to end. You spare no details, you say it all as it is, as it should be delivered. And of course many may shriek in awe, but I bow down to you in admiration.

[Michelle Coleman]

Wow! Thank you Nadia. 😄

[Willard Wells]

Damn girl you are out there. I love it. A few years ago I was told of a relationship like this only it did not end I was hearing the pain and suffering that went on and on, never ending.

Your work brought that same raw true feel to it. So many people do not realize the abuse that goes on in the world and so much is little children with no one for them to reach out to. And I don't mean some third world country. Thank you for sharing.

[Michelle Coleman]

The abuse tends to not end, unfortunately. Even today with outreach and awareness, the suffering and isolation continues. I don't know how a third world country would help. That was super random. 😜

Thank you so much. 😊