Traces

The impact of a history of domestic violence on a relationship.

I looked through the child's eyes
and traced back all the pain
Ridiculed for his hopes and dreams
Mocked for his fears and cries
Shameful neighbors heard his weeping,
yet pulled their shades and turned blind eyes
Battered body, broken spirit
He thought he was to blame

I looked through the adolescent's eyes
and traced back all the pain
Used, abused, and violated
He'd come to view the world with such distain
From foster homes to the streets
with his mother's lies, he could not compete
He sought solace in drink, drugs,
and thugs as damaged as he was

I looked into the man I'd come to love's eyes
and traced back all the pain
Disillusioned and broken
He thought my ardor could make him whole again
For our passion was strong and fierce
Unfortunately so were our fights
Attempts to deaden his sorrows
only ignited his rage and might
In the end, our devotion to one another was not enough
For all he knew how to give was corrupted love

Author's Note

This particular poem has been written and rewritten many a times mainly from memory, so it has changed here and there over the years. Though it has always remained true to its original concept.