silent woman
vulnerable woman
the menacing man has a power complex
the menacing man emits terror and belligerence
an unwanted presence towers over the silent woman
and howls with laughter and reeks of whiskey
one step forward two steps back
the thoughts of the silent woman are interrupted by frequent roars accompanied by unsolicited commentary
and she will cringe when the menacing man lays a hand on her
cringe, but not speak
the silent woman’s mind has been infiltrated by terror
so petrified, her words can’t seem to make an appearance
far too many whistles and vulgar words thrown at her on the street
far too much discomfort for the silent woman to voice intolerance
the silent woman will attempt to break free from the grasp of the menacing man, but to no avail
motions of resistance, but still no words
the silent woman remains silent
but if she dared to utter a word
every bone in her body would ache
and every vessel in her heart would burn
and every inch of her mind would collapse
so on the exterior the silent woman is helpless and weak, exposed
but inside her bones are tightening up
and her heart is beating inside her stomach
and her mind is screaming horrible things at the menacing man
shouting so loud she can’t hear her thoughts
but the menacing man only sees weakness
a trembling, silent woman
with tears so evident it’s as if they were painted on her face
more roaring bellows come from the menacing man
and then silent woman shrinks so small she can no longer hold her shivering body upright

and six years later the silent woman hears a different roaring bellow
two little angels dash through the hallways
full of laughter and big hearts
and when the two little angels ask about daddy
the silent woman can not muster a word
because she will not let the menacing man back into her mind
only to intoxicate her with destructive thoughts
and the silent woman dreads the day when the angels roam the streets
full of laughter and big hearts
only to be ripped away by a menacing man