I am a broken record
to you, so you call me a nag.
I provoke you to blows
but I never seem to learn
that I must bow to your will
and not you unto my own.
.
I am a broken record
to the police officers who answer complaints.
Through split lip and splintered teeth
I say I will not press charges
the woman looking at me with pity
pressing a pamphlet in my hands yet again.
.
I am a broken record
to the paramedics on the EMS.
The man wishes me a happy birthday
while his partner stitches me up.
I must have told them last week
but still, such a nice man to remember.
.
I am a broken record
my mind humming the wedding
march to the firing squad.
The tears in your eyes my fault
I chose the sleeveless dress
instead of lacy wraps.
.
I am a broken record
as I sit down to wait.
The food is cooked with the hopes that
it won't be to salty this time
or scalded crusty on the edges.
Maybe it won't burn your tongue.
.
I am a broken record
humming, looking at the pamphlets as always.
I have the printed number memorized
and I talk to the same nice lady each time.
I realized that you cannot hold me
your 'love' a poisonous vice.
.
I am a broken record
flipping through pictures of happier days.
But this time I light a match to them
and toss them away.
My bags are packed the bus ticket drawn
and the lady's voice hums to me now.
.
I am a broken record
but I'm not busted yet.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship call 1-800-799-7233 (US) or 0808 2000 247 (UK) or go online to www.ncadv.org.
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139,565 Literary Works • 672,608 Reviews
The feels. THE FEELS.
after "my bags are packed" you should add a comma.
Thanks for reading!
Wow. This is amazing. It really gets the message through, and I didn't know October is DVAM. Thank you for letting me know that. The imagery in this piece was wonderful, and the writing was perfect. I have no complaints, so no revisions coming with this comment
. Keep up the good work!
Wow. Just wow. The imagery in this story was amazing, and it had a beautiful rhythm to it. This is a poem that needs to be, and is, heard. What you are writing is a very important story that many people go through unfortunately. However, I believe that with little things great results can happen. With this poem just a few more people will remember what people have to struggle through daily, and maybe if more people come to realize this problem things will change, and people will get the help they need to live a happier life. I don't know anyone who is in an abusive relationship, but I will keep the fact that people are always hurting because of problems like this in my heart, and I will not forget. If I can, I will help. Thank you for an eye opening poem, I hope to see more from you in the future.
- SinisterPotatoe -
Thanks for reading! (I love your username by the way!)
Profound! Well done!
Thank you!
I love how you used the broken record as a example but pointed out at the end that she was never busted, just broken. I love how you showed everyone around tried to help her and she found a way by leaving the place and starting new! <3
I'm glad that you liked it! <3
Most powerful thing I have read in a long time. Thank you for this. It needed to be written.
Most powerful thing I have read in a long time. Thank you for this. It needed to be written.
Thanks for reading.
Hello I'm here to review
this is so good my review is going to be a little knit picky. 
keep writing!!!
First off I would like to start off by saying, this is amazing. I love how it tells a story about abuse and being scared and then it transitions into her getting the courage to leave. I think the last two lines really tie the entire poem together! Bravo
There's nothing major that stands out and you can leave it exactly how you have it now and it would be equally as stellar, but! I would put a period after the line "so you call me a nag" just to add emphasis onto the next line. I would capitalize "Through" on the second stanza line three. I would also put a period after teeth.
I'm not going to correct grammar and such through your entire work but just little things like that!
But again, this is amazing and I absolutely love imagery. You are a very talented writer, I can't wait to read more of you works
Thanks for the review!