I Woke Up Poem by Deborah Dalton

From
unconscious
to
conscious breathing
I
woke up
this morning
Dressed,
Hoped
for a new day

But,
Wore an
Illicit outfit
too much skin
too alluring
End result
brutal
rape

Woke up
this morning
Transformed wardrobe,
Hoped
for a new day

But,
allowed
No's to be ignored
By insistent
entitled
date

Woke up
this morning
Changed voice,
Hoped
for a new day

But,
Chattered
too much sass
He had to put
me back
into my
place

Woke up
this morning
Silenced voice,
Hoped
for a new day

But,
Stood in the
wrong position
As fist
crashed into
face

Woke up
this morning
Ran,
Hoped
for a new day

But,
The violation of
leaving
Is contained
within an
unmarked
grave

I
woke up
this morning
Searched closet,
Braced
for a new day

But,
Layered in
corrupt colors
vulnerable to bullets
draped
Multi-hued in
blood red

Woke up
this morning
Updated outfit,
Braced
for a new day

But,
By donning an
incorrect size
ill-fitted for
decent society
There is
decaying
flesh
wantonly
discarded

Woke up
this morning
Harmonized
Legitimate
Garments,
Braced
for a new day

But,
Spoke
without humility
Uppity voice is
perpetually
dead

Woke up
this morning
Upgraded language,
Braced
for a new day

But,
Conversed
too proper
Walking
while
the back
wears a
friendly-fire
target

Woke up
this morning
Switched
zip codes,
Braced
for a new day

But,
the unwanted
presence
gift-wrapped
boxed chattel
Threatens and
spooks
neighbors
locked and
loaded

I
woke up
this morning
Crawled,
Cried in
new day

But,
Screaming
was so loud
Mommy quiets
with multiple
shakes so
violent

Woke up
this morning
Cooed,
Cried in
new day

But,
Volume and tone
annoyed
Daddy
He
used
my arm
as an
ashtray

Woke up
this morning
Rolled over,
Cried in
new day

But,
Soiled diaper
unexpectedly
Untouched
until bedsores
ate at
strength

Woke up
this morning
Sat up,
Cried in
new day

But,
Was unable to
hold breath
long enough
My little body
immersed in water
still laid

I
woke up
this morning
Dreamed I was
not guilty of
my death

But,
Power and privilege
made a compelling case
against innocence
Shame
married to
responsibility
lingers in
the last
sour
breath

'Cause...

I
woke
up




~ D²,11.12.14,4: 44 PM
Copyright D Squared Poetry,2014
© AllRights Reserved