POETRY

Abuse Has Many Wrappings

a poem

abuse doesn’t always look like fists and kicks

sometimes it’s draped in harsh and ugly words meant to harm and to belittle and to demean

sometimes it’s disguised as passive-aggressiveness tied up with sarcasm and underhanded digs

sometimes it’s veiled in silence voicemail messages that are never listened to requests for help that fall on deaf ears

sometimes it’s garbed in eye rolls and dismissiveness in grudges and unwarranted distrust

sometimes it’s shod in the form of daggers shooting out of someone’s eyes when someone else says they’re angry because anger expressed in words isn’t acceptable

sometimes it’s robed in a shush at someone who wants to talk at someone who longs for connection but that someone is interrupting the game

sometimes it’s dressed as ingratitude where efforts are never acknowledged or appreciated

sometimes it’s clad in a suit of armor that says don’t touch me and not tonight I’d rather watch tv

sometimes it’s cloaked in humphs and do-I-have-to-do-it-nows and maybe laters

abuse has many wrappings and those on the outside may not see it

but those on the inside know its guises well

those on the inside feel it and know it’s there

kasey sparks, © 2021

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