Battered Poem by Lorene Kinsey

Keep painting to mask
The battle wounds, left upon my face
Not let them see the warrior wear
Disappointment, disgust, disgrace.
Want to stop the habit of
Containing all within,
But not wanting them to see inside
As my patience is growing thin.
Cannot keep walking on egg shells
Afraid what others might say
Or how one might come at me
If I should want to have my way.
Cannot keep pretending that
With time and endurance it will be okay
when I know inside I am aching
for my one chance to escape.