A Toxic Love

He tells me I’m stupid And ugly That no one could ever love me I could leave if I want But where would I go? Back to the darkness where he found me

And with what money?

Not his money. Even if he did make it by selling my body. Selling my dignity.

But he pays the bills— Light, food, gas Just enough to keep me alive But never enough for me to live

I can’t sit at the table with the men Because it’s not my place I should be grateful just to be here And I better not embarrass him

Cover up the bruises You learn to cry silently And eventually you don’t cry at all

Pregnancy is a gift and a curse You can’t protect a baby boy from him forever He beats you and you catch the case

I’m in an abusive relationship

with My Country But where else can I go?