he is the man

She was warm

and nurturing

somehow than turned

into control

and while she used to build him up

all she does now

is tear him down

like his destruction

is her goal

—

she used to complain

he didn’t make enough

that if he was a “real man”

he would do better to provide

so he took on overtime

and a part time job as well

and now she complains

that he is never home

accuses him of having someone else 

a woman on the side

—

she criticizes his every move

says he “can’t do anything right”

and as she slaps him in the face

she calls him weak

and useless

because he refuses

to fight

—

he trudges through each day

tired and beaten down

and wonders what has happened

to his life

he no longer recognizes himself

but he doesn’t feel

like he can leave

they have kids

and she is his wife

—

he no longer sees his family

has no friends to understand

so he suffers silently

no one would believe him

anyway

after all

he is the man

 

 

~Melanie Thomason

*October is National Domestic Abuse Awareness Month.  Just a reminder that women are not the only victims of domestic violence.  Men are abused as well and are often too ashamed to admit it or ask for help.