Heard this today, and it touched me; deep. Again. Had to share. Hope it touches you, too.
(Suggestion: read it aloud.)
Million dollar baby girl in the lower middle class
With a maglight right beneath her pillow
And though she's never been a boxer by choice
She's known to act oak [OK], you'll never catch her a willow
Nuh-uh
She's the calm type
You see the small scars
Creepin' down her arms
peeking from them long sleeves, right?
She keeps him weak in the knees
but she stay out of sight
And when that school bell rings
it's goodnight
Or might as well be
He never sees her around
But he looks
For weeks now he's been "Maybe tomorrow"
But he's shook
He sees those bruises and he needs to please her
Plus he don't wanna go home either
Gives her a look as they pass
Copies down a poem from a schoolbook
Gives it to her after hesitation whoops his ass
She took it fast
Lost, like, all sensation in her hands
then braces herself gracefully
sturdy where she stands
humble mumbling
past the words, fumbling
Nothing discouraging
just nerves
just drumming up the courage
Something 'bout skylines
or bike rides
or riverbeds
Somethin'
Somethin' that he read
it caught her right beneath the armor
cauterized thought of any blunt force trauma
Ain't no way that he could harm her
Nuh-uh
No way
When that curse leaves a shell like a snake with fresh scales
Some people seem to call that home
But some souls roam
Keep riding 'til the cycle is broke
We don't gotta go through nothin' alone
She's in the weather
the whole storm
Huggin' on her prince
his hands to skin warm
Quick out the door
no note
no forlorn
'Cause all they heard was "Papa
don't hit me no more"
But they couldn't seem to keep the swelling down
How they regretted ever lettin' out this 3rd child born
But things are getting better now
Yeah, cozy sweater now
with her thumbs through the holes
in her sleeves worn down
And a boy similar
Noise minimal
toy criminal
Joy's simple when someone's found it in you
Somehow it boosts the individual
That bluish hue is mutual
They make love gently
so aware of each others' bruises
And sorta scared they could lose this
trust
Bury the blues
somewhere it won't bear roots
But is this boy where the truth is?
She's spooked, see
Fruit never seems to fall far
from the useless branch that it's attached to
And quacks say if he's beat up he's bound to smack you
She's down to step back now
If he ever gets loud
She couldn't be proud
of whatever she might do
But this is the first time
she ever felt touched
that didn't bring her to hush
like something was being done to her
That unscrews her
She loosens with the booze
Her hinge can stay bent
addressing her dude's wounds
Regressing to bedrooms
where fools ignored "don't"
He's not one of them tools
that screws, nuts and bolts
And she know that
And she know that but she holds back
And she hope that
he see the way she flinch
'cuz it's kneejerk to brace for the attack
Even if he's only rubbing her back
I mean
And even if it's like the deck has been stacked
It's not an act
He's really loving her back
Hold your heart up
"Never raise your hand"
She says that with her grown-up voice
"I'm your's now" just like a child
"Please don't be scared now"
It clicks
a piece finally fits
"I love you"
They say that with their lips
"Never raise your hand"
He says that with a grown-up voice
"I'm your's now" just like a child
"Please don't be scared now"
It clicks
a piece finally fits
"I love you"
When that curse leaves a shell like a snake with fresh scales
Some people seem to call that home
But some souls roam
Keep riding 'til the cycle is broke
We don't gotta go through nothin' alone
-"Been Afraid"
P.O.S.
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