She is beautifully dark haired —
with Her Orange Blossom
poised above Her Left Ear —
She spoke, She speaks
melodiously into My Right Ear
I hear Her all day
all night:
She is My Woman/Child
“Do It To Me — Do It To Me –”
I had My Voice for THAT
but my voice was stifled, sucked back
when I tried to cry out,
down a darkened staircase:
“Who Is It? Who Is It?”
And he attacked me
on my unfamiliar bed
to hold me down
to inject me
while I couldn’t say “NO”
Everybody is out
To protect themselves
And/or their children and pets
Through control measures
Like work schedules
And happy homemaking —
Through school lunches
And hospital stays
Through church services
And funerals
And art
Joanna Gilman Hyde 