PoemsBrowse PoemsSlamsFresh DropEchoes
LearnWriting TipsPoetry TermsPoets & ArtistsBooksFor Teachers
ExplorePoetry GenomePoem MapEchoesTake ActionGroups
AboutWrite a PoemDonateSign UpLog In
Free Verse

It's not abuse


She doesn't hit me

But she yells

"It's not abuse,"  they tell me

There's no bruise 

No proof of the mental scars

If you could hear our house at night, you would know 

You would understand why I flinch at a raised voice

Why I tense when I hear my name being called

If you could listen to what she tells me

You would know why I feel so worthless

©All Rights Reserved

Something wrong with this poem?

Share

Replies are closed for this poem.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988, 24/7. Crisis Text Line — text HELLO to 741741.

This Poem's Voice

Your Poem's Voice

PersonalThemeAbstract

Deeply personal/autobiographical; specific family trauma and abuse experience

SparseMeasureDense

Multiple interconnected ideas: denial, emotional abuse, trauma responses, worthlessness

DarkSentimentBright

Strongly negative; despair, worthlessness, psychological pain throughout

StillEnergyExplosive

Intense emotional charge; sharp declarative statements, staccato opening, building urgency

MicroLengthEpic

Approximately 13 lines; falls in 7-15 line range

PlainFigurativeOrnamented

Some figurative language (mental scars as metaphor, conditional imagery) but mostly direct/declarative

LyricVoiceDramatic

Pure lyric internal voice; first-person intimate reflection on personal experience

Free Verseelegyidentityprotestmetaphorrepetitionenjambment

How do we analyze poems? →

Artist Match

Comments (0)

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.

Log in to leave a comment.