Broken-Megha Sood

This poem is part of the series on the global exploitation of women. 

Domestic Violence against women – particularly intimate partner violence and sexual violence – is a major public health problem and a violation of women’s human rights.

1. Global estimates published by WHO indicate that about 1 in 3 (35%) of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime.
2. Globally, as many as 38% of murders of women are committed by a male intimate partner.

Violence can negatively affect women’s physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health, and may increase the risk of acquiring HIV in some settings.There is evidence that advocacy and empowerment counseling interventions, as well as home visitation, are promising in preventing or reducing intimate partner violence against women.

You are broken and torn apart
at multiple places
not an inch has been left on your soul
which has not been
branded by his violent displays

You weep and yelp
at the slightest of his touch
bleeding like a soulless animal
you are dragged everywhere

Your heart wrenching
and blood-curdling screams
are falling on the
deaf ears
He is driven by his fear and anger
to brandish your body and soul
to trademark every tear

You wake up next day
salvaging your last dregs of sanity
gather yourself again
to  relive again the hellish reality

You cover and hide your bruises
under your makeup
when the scars are tattooed on your soul
they don’t need  a shakeup

You try to justify his every act
to balance with lost love
once you had
how he must be having a hard day
before he devoured you
with all the anger he had

You are masking your emotions
with that fake smile
and empty heart
living fearfully
not knowing
when it will start again.

Every pore in your body
begets the revenge
till you are knocked down
again
by his strong hand

You wish his existence to be
a glitch in nature
a ripple in time
which can take him back again
So you don’t have to face the mirror
to see his broken love
written on your face
all over again.

United States National Hotlines

National Domestic Violence Hotline

Staffed 24 hours a day by trained counselors who can provide crisis assistance and information about shelters, legal advocacy, health care centers, and counseling.

1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
1-800-787-3224 (TDD)