WHAT ELSE CAN I DO???

11 Comments

Tags:
  • Anger
    • ,
  • Frustration
    • ,
  • Devotion
    • ,
  • Faith
    • ,
  • Change

    Poem Commentary

     Ok, I would not be able to deal with ole Mr. Johnson, but in spite of this I know where he's coming from. It's Mrs Johnson I admire and though I want to rush her to the nearest divorce lawyer, she took a vow to love and stand by her man for better or worse. Mrs. Johnson is so deeply devoted to her husband  and faith that she knows God is going to improve the whole situation. now that's a woman that believes in and loves her man. I would like  to believe that Mr. Johnson is going to change, and while 99.9% know that's  ludicrous, it is faith that moves mountains.

    WHAT ELSE CAN I DO???

    WHAT ELSE CAN I DO

    I didn’t mean to hurt you Mrs. Johnson.

    I really am a good man.

    Go upstairs and wash your bloody face

    You made me raise my hand.



    Do you think I have it easy?

    As a man I can’t stand tall.

    My life is controlled by whistles and bells

    And that nasty foreman’s call.



    Why do you get me so angry?

    With your martyred looks and frowns.

    Why do you say,”We’ll make do dear”?

    That’s kicking me when I’m down.


    Everyone say’s you’re long suffering,

    That you need to leave this sorry excuse for a man

    They say my drinking caused all of this.

    You tell me I do all I can.



    You are not to blame Mrs. Johnson

    You’re grateful for each cent I earn

    But when you offer to work and help out.

    I start to do a slow burn.



    I’ll never go with you to church,

    Watch my family praying in rags.

    Maybe God doesn’t mind those messed up clothes

    That you pulled from the charity bags.



    Oh it’s not false pride Mrs. Johnson.

    Not with my lunch is in a brown paper sack.

    I can’t go enjoy rounds of beer with the guys

    Cause I can’t take a turn and pay back.



    I know it’s my fault for all this.

    I’m less than a man in my eyes.

    If you’d pack up the kids and just leave,

    I wouldn’t be telling myself all these lies.



    Why do you stand by me honey?

    Why put up with my crap?

    How is it this God gives you comfort

    When I kick you and bite you and slap?



    Please don’t leave Mrs. Johnson

    I know I’m driving you away

    If you stick with me a little more

    I’ll give God my life this  day.



    It’s not an empty promise

    I see the good God does through you

    He allowed you to love me in spite of myself

    Then he can make me a man brand new.

    CM Lestrade

    © 9/10/2009

    Poem Comments

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    jademelissa74 commented on WHAT ELSE CAN I DO???

    10-30-2009

    Piercing words that lead the soul to a state of deliverance. You manage to paint pain and anguish on a well-know canvas. You are so talented and special. Thank you.
    Reply to Comment

    cmlestrade

    10/31/2009

    Thank you. I could never put up with a real life Mr. Johnson even though I can understand his struggle. I wish someone would write about exactly what he can do because besides saying act right, I don't have a clue.

    mdpoetgirl commented on WHAT ELSE CAN I DO???

    10-28-2009

    Marriage is a difficult place to find yourself a battered woman, because like you say, a woman wants to stand by her man and do what appears to be the godly thing - to pray for him and have faith that things will get better. Too often, though, this is not the case. Still, this was an interesting perspective and probably really reflects what some abusers feel.
    Reply to Comment

    cmlestrade

    10/29/2009

    Sad but true.No one male or female should be battered. I also learned that many men are abused. At first I thought ridiculous but sadly, that is not the case.

    jesusfreake commented on WHAT ELSE CAN I DO???

    10-13-2009

    this is so sweet and true...i love how each sentence flows smoothly and its easy for me to understand...i think that u are becoming my favorite and wisest poet.....this is an amazing poet and u see many things that other women may forget while in the midst of this type of situation...ur wisdom and unique perspective....!!!
    Reply to Comment

    cmlestrade

    10/16/2009

    I of course think he could do a lot more but we just assess situations from the outside. As I said Í can be mean. I want to beat his head back in, not a wise or very spiritual solution when I should pray for people in these circumstances. thank you for all the kind things you say.

    war502 commented on WHAT ELSE CAN I DO???

    09-28-2009

    deep this is a masterpiece made me think of my freind and her man and the anger he brought me when they were together ,a man hitting a women is not a man at all....this poem is real showing the difficult side of love...
    Reply to Comment

    cmlestrade

    09/28/2009

    I agree with you but a man hitting a woman or anything weaker than himself just bespeaks that he is afraid of anything stronger and can only find his fullfillment in hurting the weak.

    miltonsgirl commented on WHAT ELSE CAN I DO???

    09-25-2009

    I feel what he's saying I stayed in an abusive relationship for 8 years and 9 months. And when I finally left he told me it's not as bad as before we've come along way which was true but as a human being staying waiting for change is just too draining emotionally mentally. Maybe for some staying was the soltion, I just didn't have it in me to try anymore.
    Reply to Comment

    cmlestrade

    09/26/2009

    You really really tried kudos to you and bless you for loving someone that much. I bet he now realizes he lost the love of his life someone who stayed with him through anything.

    If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know that is poetry.

    Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) American poet.

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