Little girls are taught that boys being boys,
will torment to show their love.
Big girls will claim that love makes up
for bruises,
broken bones and split lips.
I am lucky not to have known that sort of that love.
I’ve never been struck
by someone claiming their heart beats for me
while echoing the beating with their fists.
When it happens to a man
they are reduced to the weaker sex,
because it’s bad enough when a woman
doesn’t have the balls to leave.
Without experiencing the same thing
I can’t say for certain,
but I’ve carried enough fear with me
to understand what it is to cling
to the things we know.
Privileged,
is a tricky word to stick
when most of us hide
the things dragging us down.
Carol J Forrester 
This to me is so very dark… a privilege to not have been beaten…. maybe as a man I would say that I feel privileged to have the proper way to communicate without the use of fists.
the human heart and body have resilience beyond comprehension. fear holds us back from seeing the truth masked by words of love and regret. your words hit some tender nerves Carol. well written
I’m afraid I was one of those girls, little and big, Carol, but not anymore. Thank you for this poem, which reminds me what a lucky escape I had and how privileged I am now.
My mother was battered by all three of her husbands. I vowed never to strike a woman, and unless I’m mugged or attacked by one, I should be able to keep that vow.
The last stanza sums it up well. Many of us are shadowed by darkness.
This is very dark and disturbing and I am thankful never to have experience this. I can’t imagine what it is to be on the other side, yikes.
You have given voice to some sad realities.
Wow, Carol, this is powerful exposure of both the sin and the fear.
An interesting poem. Sometimes privilege may keep a person in a bad situation. Leverage is the downside of privilege and many use it well to manipulate and control others.
Oh, this speaks of such a harsh reality — how you portray this violence reminds me of the perpetuation of strict gender roles and stereotypes, where violence against women stays hidden because of lack of opportunities/social support for help and violence against men stays unreported because of misconceived notions of masculinity and strength.
This bit is so interesting in its thought and depth: “to understand what it is to cling/to the things we know.”
To have such privilege is not a minor detail, yet you remind us that woman are deprived of privilege on the grand scale.
Sometimes we take for granted the privileges that are ours in search of privileges desired.
Privilege
Showing Face
Outside A Mask
Often
Lost
Behind..:)
There’s also some privilege in being able to hide the ugly bits sometimes, too. This poem is much more nuanced than it first seems.
You’ve brought up a disturbing reality for far too many. Some people’s reality is hell on earth.