This post is a bit of divergence for me. I was sucked into the police lip sync video challenge on facebook when I came across the video done by the PIckens County Sherriff’s Office (GA) (https://youtu.be/Y792WTpUTW4). A friend of mine commented on it and the comment triggered some dark memories of the very slight glimpse I had into domestic violence. Later that day, I loaded Taylor Swift’s Reputation (https://www.amazon.com/reputation-Taylor-Swift/dp/B077H93JN4) onto iTunes and gave it a listen. The girls in the lobby on New’s Years Day were so opposite of the theme of the song they stuck with me.
With the thoughts from the video, recollections from my past, my friend’s comments, the girls in the lobby, and the melody/words of New’s Years Day in my head, I wrote the following poem, an opposite of sorts of the song.
Just one more thought before you read what I wrote: if you are a victim or witness of domestic violence and need help, please call the national hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (if there is an immediate danger, call 911). If you want to help victims of domestic violence please donate to your local shelter – cash and wishlist items are desperately needed – via the list of shelters at https://www.domesticshelters.org/, (just search your zip code). Thank you for reading (and donating!!!)…
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I am carrying my shoes out through the lobby
Still wearing the glitter from the party
Candle wax spilled on my way out the door
Just trying to sneak out before
This is my last cage
Every day you’re scarier and I need to leave
You took my midnights
So I scatter broken bottles for you on New Year’s Eve
You choke my neck three times in the back of the pickup
This is such a long ride into hell
I can’t believe you’re still toasting the town, babe
Because you struck me after I fell
This is the last stage
I’ll have to get you locked up after I am forced to leave
You took my midnights
So I scatter broken bottles for you on New Year’s Eve
Let go of the memories, they will choke you to death
Let go of the memories, they will choke you to death
Let go of the memories, they will choke you to death
And I will escape you
Please don’t ever try to find me, you won’t recognize me anymore
Please don’t ever try to find me, you won’t recognize me anymore
I am carrying my shoes out through the lobby
Still wearing the glitter from the party
Candle wax spilled on my way out the door
I won’t stay where I stayed before
I’ve signed the last page
I’ve gone because I’m done being wrong and need to grieve
I took back my midnights
After I left broken bottles for you on New Year’s Eve
Let go of the memories, they will choke you to death
Let go of the memories, they will choke you to death
Let go of the memories, they will choke you to death
And I will escape you
Please don’t ever try to find me, you won’t recognize me anymore
Please don’t ever try to find me, you won’t recognize me anymore
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