The men who hurt my sisters…

The men who hurt my sisters…
Are they themselves panicked?
What is their central issue?
What monsters do they carry within themselves?
To exact such pain upon these women I love
I do not know how they feel, these women in my life
How their pain blots their life
How they must work in earnest as their lovers inhibit their lives
How they must feel •

Most of the women in my family have experienced some sort of domestic or sexual violence in their lives. I am one of the few who has escaped this trend. My sisters and mothers have been raped, strangled, punched, slapped... the entire gamut of possible physical assaults. And yet they continue to care for their children and exhibit rare smiles, all while experiencing turmoil, fear internally. All while, usually, still being required to spend time around the men who have attacked them.

I cannot pretend to understand, cannot begin to empathize; all that I have is tears and frustration for them.

Find someone to confide in. Find your local domestic violence hotline. Move into a shelter if you must. File a restraining order if you are able. Those who are violent do not stop their behavior, it will happen again. Get out now - when you can gather yourself emotionally - while you can. Do so before this becomes a horror story. This is all that I have to offer, and my powerlessness regarding this topic is impales me. •

Poem from Acres of Shadow
© Aisha Tariqa Abdul Haqq Publishing
Follow @AishaTariqa for more daily poetry •