• i.
    dirty evil rotten little b***h
    shut your ******** mouth.
    i'll knock your teeth
    down
    your
    throat.


    ii.
    she's spreading horrible lies about me!
    don't believe a word she says.
    i would never hit my
    baby girl.

    the bruise darkens, mottled
    yellows and reds.
    cheek swells, jaw locked
    mommy's little girl.
    "why would you post this?" they ask.
    "your mother would never hit you
    unless you d e s e r v e d it."

    iii.
    the children ask,
    "did somebody hurt you?
    where did those scars come from?"
    how do you tell them
    it was your mommy?