Poor Woman's Divorce
POOR WOMAN'S DIVORCE
She stood over him as he slept,
wondering if he would mind
if she crawled inside him,
consumed him,
Became him.
Big as it was,
hatred was too small a word.
No pretense
or argument
would have stilled her thoughts,
no pleading or requests
would have stopped her attempt.
No pretense
or argument
would have stilled her thoughts,
no pleading or requests
would have stopped her attempt.
She would have no more.
Warm and alive,
she could not
not touch him -
rough and strong,
she had to have him.
She stood over him,
breathing the bitter gun oil.
Her hands stroked the barrel
like he had stroked himself,
more than once.
His stillness calmed her,
invited her
to take him.
She wanted to push herself inside of him
the way he had
to her. She would give him
no choice,
the way he had
to her.
She stood over him as he died,
wondering if he would mind
if she kept everything
he had given her
except the name.
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"(There are) many stories which are not on paper, they are written in the bodies and minds of women."
"(There are) many stories which are not on paper, they are written in the bodies and minds of women."
Shared with DVerse Poets in response to the poetry of, and the personal story of, the Punjabi poet Amrita Pritam
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©2014 Christopher Reilley
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I do not condone murder, but I can see how this would make sense. The title also says so much, as the economic inequality often means that divorce is not a viable option
ReplyDeleteWow, this is a mini-Faulkner novel, so much implied back story. A Mickey Spillane noir tale. Prisons are full of these bullet divorcees, and probably they are happier there than in the marriage.
ReplyDeleteThat's a very impactful title! As a woman I can empathise with her. The last line is so powerful.
ReplyDeleteIt's a tragic situation isn't it? I don't blame her but I can feel deep empathy for her situation. Is there another solution rather than killing? But I guess when you are at your wits end, it may seem the only way. And you end it with a killer stanza. Thanks for joining in.
ReplyDeleteWow... this is really gripping. Very powerful.
ReplyDeleteYour story is stunning and powerful and sadly all too often told.
ReplyDeleteYour poetry is some of the most intense I've read ... and it is chilling, beautifully composed.
ReplyDeleteIn some cases it is the only way out (aside from suicide or death by murder.) Good title. I like Glenn's "bullet divorcees" also. Very powerful wordsmithing on an intense subject.
ReplyDeleteSo often it seems there is no other solution. Intense with emotion.
ReplyDeleteVery powerful, and beautifully crafted. That last stanza is perfect. I would say not only poor women, but abused women in places where divorce is not available. Even in the US, marital rape wasn't a crime everywhere until 1993.
ReplyDeleteVisceral, the tension, the emotion, feelings, movement, revenge. Wonderful stuff.
ReplyDelete