Sticks and Stones

may break my bones

But your hurtful words

utterly destroy me.

Every time

you called my name

In trembling fear

I cringed

to face you.

Every time

you flicked away

Your wedding band

I tensed up

appalled by you.

Every time

you addressed me

As a stupid child

I crumbled underneath

the weight of you.

Every time

you built another wall

Of anger between us

It violently chipped away

the plaster of my soul.

Every time

you refused to listen

To my dreams

I shrank smaller

within myself.

Until one day

I prayed

you would put away

Your hateful words

And use sticks and stones instead -

Hoping then

you’d see

The internal damage

You inflicted

on me.