Leave! Poem by Deidre Dixon

Why are you trying to hang onto
Someone who obviously doesn’t care about you
Why are you making excuses for them
When all they do is hurt you again and again
What is making you stay in this bad situation
After all of the mental, emotional and physical abuse you have taken
Why do you let them have the run of your house
And disrespect you and yours while you sit there quiet as a mouse
They act like they don’t even want to be seen with you
Until they need or want something, then they’re calling you Boo
Do you still believe the lies that say, “I love and adore you”
While you’re being hit upside your head and your eyes are black and blue
What is it going to take for you to leave this terrible place
A dislocated shoulder or a rearranged face
Don’t you know that there is a better life than this
A life full of freedom, peace and joyful bliss
I know they said they would kill you if you ever tried to leave
But don’t you know that’s a trick of the enemy to keep you from getting what you need
I know you don’t have any money or any skills to get a job
But you have to knock on the door; not just stand there jiggling the knob
You can use all of the excuses, if, ands and buts
But all that’s going to do is just keep you in a rut
Stop fooling yourself into thinking things are going to change
And stop walking in pride because you are so ashamed
I know that it hurts and that it scares the wits out of you
But don’t let that stop you from doing everything that you need to do
Make yourself a list from A to Z
Of all the tedious details and the things you’re going to need
You might have to change locks or get a restraining order
But, it would be better to do those things before someone has to report a murder
You ask, “What should I do if they want a reprieve? ”
The only advice I can give to you is one word, and that is LEAVE!