Black and blue she may be,
but look how she is standing
to pull herself up, and others.
Most of their bruises are lying like hers
under layers nearly as thick as fists
that they have raised aching arms
to build behind double-locked doors
in the glare of bathroom bulbs
with Cover Girl and powdered talc
says on the label it is "neutral."

Neutral is a step the bruisers
are too often unwilling to take.
Oh, they take, all right. Do they!!
But look how many women stand
to pull themselves up, and others.
Instead of hiding under make-up,
they are helping each other prove
what they -- all of us-- are made of,
brothers and sisters. This is not male
versus female, but a blot
on all our lives that we can erase
by believing in ourselves, and others.
Fighting without lowering ourselves
to the level abusers snake below.

Here. Take this washcloth. Scrub gently,
but get the stuff off. Show the police
Everybody. Make them listen,
if we all pull. Every woman
and every child has the right.
to be safe. Men who are kind
have the right not to carry the weight
of those who are cruel. It is time,
our friend is shouting. It is time!!

She is right.

(c) Phyllis Jean Green

{Rights reserved except for organizations such as Angels That Care that are fighting to halt domestic violence.}