Black and blue

Because she could not

Meet his standards.

Black and blue,

Sometimes yellow,

Depending on the day.

On the first, there are no visible marks

She can still go to school

And hide her wincing. But

It is on the first day

They hurt the most.

On the second day they are black,

Black and blue,

So she stays home

To hear her mother crying

Father cursing,

Bed springs going. (She knows)

Mother will join her soon.

On the third day

They are lighter

A pale purple, sometimes a faded yellow

Like the setting sun.

One she prays will never go down,

For it is in the dark that she dies.

If Papa was careful,

She may go to school

To pretend she is okay.

But if Papa beat her and didn’t think

And the marks showed up on her face,

Then she stays home, icing her eyes

That have swollen shut.

And the lip

That has spilt open.

She draws in ragged breaths

Each one

Another bomb

Exploding inside her chest.

On the fourth day

She is still at home

Taking care of Mama

Tending to her wounds

Much worse than her own.

The kettle boils

And she makes tea

To soothe her Mama’s broken voice

Hoarse from all the stifled screams.

She sings softly

For her Mama

With the broken voice

And the broken body,

And the broken heart.

She sings for love

And for happiness. But

She stops when the tears threaten

To fall down her face

Exposing her weakness. So,

They sit in silence.

Praying:

Papa does not come home

The sun does not set

The clock does not strike seven.

But it always does.

And Papa always comes home

Drink on his breath

Anger in his heart

Strength in his limbs.

On the fifth day

She wakes up on the floor.

Vomit rises in her throat

She spews it all over

And rises quickly to clean it up

Before Papa finds out. But

Her body does not move.

She has no choice but to stay where she

Is. And wait for the clock to strike seven.

The next beating.

And it comes.

Her mind does not recognize

The wretched noises

Escaping her body.

No, she thinks,

Be quiet.

She commands her body to still.

And so she remains limp

Like a ragdoll

Silent. Eyes always open.

Thrown around and around and around.

On the sixth day she feels nothing.

The pain has numbed.

Sounds are faded

Eardrums shattered.

Everything is black.

Black and blue.

Blind.

Limbs are broken

Breathing slows.

I’m sorry Mama.

I can’t

Sing for you today.

But don’t worry Mama,

Tomorrow I will be alright.

Tomorrow I will sing

Of love

Of happiness

I will sing for you.

I will sing for you.

On the seventh day she feels cold.

Is cold.

Mother sings for her.

Of love

Of happiness

As she is

Lowered into the ground.