The storm clouds
gathering in the skies
are mirrored in her eyes.
And as the thunder rolls ever closer
she feels it in her soul,
each peal of thunder
barely drowning out the sound
of her memories,
each strike of lightning
illuminating them
for her to relive in terrifying clarity.

His voice,
always yelling;
the inevitable blows,
the way he knew just how
to break her down.
The way he still comes around
taking what he pleases from her,
forcing himself on her,
shattering her from the inside out...

She wants to let herself be happy
because he is gone
mostly
replaced by a man who loves her
unconditionally.

But,
like the storm,
she's just a ticking time bomb,
destroying everything in her wake
before disappearing
completely,
permanently.

On their third date,  Sue forgot
her diaphragm; the infant died at birth.  

Second child was touched,
she & the boy moved to town.

Dave got the house, Chrysler
& an unfinished chicken coop.

Being a woman is hard.
Actually,
Being a woman
You expect me to be
Is hard.
Being who I am,
Well now,
That's really easy.

So society tells me
I should be thin
Maybe look like 'em supermodels
I guess since
That's not happening
I'll go drown my "sorrows"
In a box of ice cream.

Be beautiful
By putting all that mush on my face?
Sorry, no thank you
I'll pass.
I'll be me with all my spots, marks
Freckles and all.

Because you see,
What I am,
Well the genes,
Were handed to me,
By the two most beautiful people
In the world,
Yes, freckles and all.

I am independent
I am smart
I dont need to look like a clown
To please your senses.
I'm much more than
What's on the surface.
So if you wanna like me
Its a package deal,
Freckles and all.