I Could Be Her, She Could Be Me

I have judged her

More times than he has shoved her

Spoken her name

In disgust and disdain

Claimed

In my condescending voice

How my choice

Would never land me in her shoes

That I knew exactly who to choose.

I could never be her and she could

Never be me.

Then the tide turned

And I learned

How to sit subdued

While his voice thundered

And I slowly surrendered

Pieces of my pride

As I tried to hide

What was happening

But every word was a sting.

And the day he grabbed my dress

With emotions less

Than a lover’s caress

I died a million deaths

And took the blame

To hide my shame

And I remembered her name.

He no longer holds back

The urge to slap

Me across the face

Leaving a black and blue trace

Of his devotion

And I have cried oceans

Of tears

Trapped by fears

And suddenly I see

I could be her

And she

She could be me. . .


© Ix-Chel Poot