I want
To hide
From the heavy
Hand of violence.
I want
To hide
From men
Inflicting wounds,
I want
To hide
From the vile
Poison of woman-hatred.
You
Who keep me
From reaching out,
You
Keep us
Hiding, in fear-inflected
Roles.
You
Beat me
Beat the children
Beat the battered
Women—wives and mothers
Hiding, cowed in shelters.
You
Keep us
Fear-ridden,
Riddled with bruises,
You
Keep me down.
***
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