A Poem For The Abused

To the sons and daughters of the closet alcoholics
To the infants and babies of the cocaine loving mothers
To the beautiful girls with the blackened eyes
To the gay guys with the God fearing fathers

It's okay
You are not alone

During those painful late night beatings
During the vicious degrading name calling
During the hiding and praying
During all the mind numbing screaming

Close your eyes
Pray
And remember you are not alone

Think of your neighbor who is having leather put to their back
Think of the little girl whose father "checked" on her already three times this night
Think of the wife who is fighting for her life
And think of her children who are seeing the scene unfold

And think of me
Think of me

For I am just like you
We have the same scars, bumps and bruises
Some that will never go away
For we share, if not the same, a similar story of abuse

Watching my mother beat my brother up the stairs
Hearing her call me a "fat bitch" as she drinks her forty
Seeing the white powdery lines on her bed room dresser
Feeling her morning spit soak into my favorite hoodie

My favorite hoodie

You are not alone
Think of me
Think of us
And please be strong.

*photos taken, edited and owned by Katelyn Smith. Find here.