Escape... Poem by Rohan Sen

Excuses; They were always at hand,
I slipped down the stairs,
I stumbled against a chair,
making the neighbours doubt,
causes for a blue bruising mouth

His love knew no bounds,
when he was sober,
yet when anger blew over,
my face suffered deeds,
of his corporal needs

Often contemplated death,
for if I ran away I knew he'd find me,
his friends, like a pack of dogs behind me,
doubted if against them my body would survive,
till he with itching fists arrive

Taking matters into my own hands,
when he was in slumber deep,
beside him did creep,
for once my hands spoke,
stabbing, cutting the marital yoke

Today, behind bars, I am raped,
by men women alike, but have escaped,
his power over me...
Here I yield to brutal force,
unlike the moral fibre bound,
tethered on marriage's hallowed ground