Emptied Woman Poem by Terry Collett

And she had that feeling
of the new day

being no better
and he was always the same

with the constant
moans and the groans

and that way he had
of coming home

and giving her the eye
and the heavy silence

and she knew
what was coming next

and as he put on the TV
he lit up a cigarette

and poured himself
some booze

and then he’d sit there
picking on her

for this and that
and waiting for her

to step out of line
or say something

off the cuff
and then he’d start

the slapping around
or thumping

and then he’d say
in that tone of voice of his

call yourself a wife and lover
I could pick up some hooker

with more talent and love
I could walk into any bar

and see a dame
with more beauty and looks

and then he’d run down her family
and then he’d say

suddenly having bruised a cheek
or split a lip

or blackened an eye
you aren’t so beautiful

as once you were
and he’d push her

into the bedroom
and force himself

on her and she’d
lay there

eyes on the ceiling
being bit by bit

emptied of self respect
and any deep down feeling.