Stop Domestic Abuse - Let the Bruises Show!
She Never Let the Bruises Show
After the domestic abuse of a friend got out of hand and the victim was not believed because she never let the bruises show, and when she did speak out about the threats made on her life, she was denied an 'order of protection' by the Police.
When she found someone who did believe her, he and she were blamed for the break-up of her marriage...She was told "Go back and work it out!" by those who could not possible know what she had/was going through because she never let the bruises show.
Stop the Abuse - Let the bruises show
She tried so hard to remember
When the abuse began
It started so slow she did not know
Verbal bruises do not show
At first they were insulting hateful words
Her self-esteem torn down
For what? She did not know
Bruising of the heart does not show
Then from the first strike he told her
“See what you made me do?”
And if you tell your kids
They will not believe you
Especially when I tell them about you
With makeup, hats and long sleeved shirts
She hid the bruises from our view
But her closest, dearest friends all knew
When an order of Police protection was denied
What could any of us do?
To her friends and family
He showed a side that was anything but mean
To her he showed the beast
No one else could know
Because she didn’t let the bruises show
He told her she will rue the day
If she should ever walk away
And he would make her dearly pay
She turned her pretty face away
On the 31st day of May
She did not have to look at him
As he took her life that day
Let the Bruises Show
Linda Martin left a legacy of love
For everyone she knew
Honor her memory
Stop the abuse and let the bruises show
Let the Bruises show
Don’t enable the abuse to grow
Let your friends and loved ones know
Find a safe place to go and let the bruises show
Reach out to others
To help you through the pain
When your love can’t stand the strain
And you can no longer hold the reins
Let the bruises show
Don’t share the abuser’s blame
Don't let your silence hide their shame
Let the bruises show
How can you stop the bleed?
Get the abuser the help they need
Don’t hide the pain
Let the Bruises show
Stop the verbal before the physical abuse can start
With your words you can expose
The scars upon your heart
Those scars are very real…Scars no one else can see or feel
Unless you let the bruises show
No one else will ever know
© 2016 Shyron E Shenko
Comments
- Author
Patricia, I appreciate your comment and I appreciate the Angels. I hope the lady that you met got help. I knew someone who was an abuser who dared not abuse.
Angels are returning will many blessings and hugs dear friend.
So powerfully stated Shyron. It is heart breaking to know that some endure this abuse in silence. When I was the Parenting specialist (funny title...how anyone can specialize in parenting is something I never figured out) a young woman came in the the Parent Center bruised obviously bruised and with lumps on her arms and face. She did not deny what was happening but refused to get out of the situation. Before too many weeks after that the family suddenly moved. So I never knew what happened to her. But it took my breath away to see her. Thank you for giving a voice to the voiceless .....many Angels are headed your way dear lady ps
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Au fait, thank you for the comment. It is an important issue, I know a man who was abused for all his married life until his death and kept quiet about it. I don't know if it fear of being alone or if he loved his wife that much.
Sorry to hear about the hail damage to your car.
Looks like we will have to sell something to pay for damages to our property. I was so scared yesterday when John was cutting the grass, the town has made the ditch embankment so steep is perilous to cut but John did it and I was afraid he would turn over and I know it would kill him if he did.
Blessings and hugs dear friend.
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Kathleen, thank you for the comment. My mother always said the same thing, but my ex without provocation hit me once and he hit the wall after my chain reaction, he never tried that again.
You are right, no one deserves to be beaten/brow-beaten by anyone and especially the person who supposedly loves them
Blessings my dear friend.
My mother always said, if he will hit you once, he will hit you again. My daughter's ex was emotionally abusive. I've sometimes wished he'd hit her. It would be easier to prove. Either way, no one deserves this treatment from someone who was supposed to love her.
Glad to see this article made Letterpile. It's an important issue and for a long time HP didn't like people to write about it. That seems to have changed and that's a good thing. Discussion will often assist in resolving these issues and so it's important not to forbid them.
I'm glad you chose to write about this issue because the more daylight it gets the quicker it is likely to end.
Hope all is well with you. Not sure if I mentioned it previously, but the hail on Monday night a week ago broke my windshield. Have an area about 8" in diameter that I'm lucky it didn't break clear through and it will not pass inspection as is. Was attacked by a speeding shopping cart and a trash can that was turned into a missile last week Wed. night Aril 5. Wind was at least 70 mph during that storm. But I survived it.
Hope you and John and Chipper are well. Blessings dear friend . . . (Sharing this on FB)
I do think people should face these situations head on and not try to sweep them under the rug. It's long past when these things should have ended, but it seems there are some people who only know physical violence to settle their disagreements.
Glad you are shedding light on this problem of domestic abuse and violence. It needs to end permanently. People need to learn other means to settle differences. Dignified adult means, not mean childish ones.
Blessings and hugs to you both. Take care . . .
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Jennifer, thank you for the comment, and compliment. My ex only hit me one time and may write about that one day but not right now.
I will have to read "Why Does He Do That?"
Blessings my friend.
This is terrific. I am glad you are raising awareness.
I have never been in an abusive relationship but I read "Why Does He Do That?," and I felt like I was going crazy just reading it. It is such a detailed description of an abuser's mind, tactics, and why it is so hard to let the bruises show.
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Randi, thank you so very much for the compliment and comment, I appreciate you. Let us hope we can stop domestic abuse.
Blessings my friend
How heartbreaking! What beautiful poetry you write. I'm so sorry for your loss. It is terribky hard to let the bruises show but as long as there are safe places and people to support, hopefully more people will be comfortable to speak up.
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Scott, thank you so much for the comment.
My ex only hit me one time, then the wall. I hope your friend is okay, my friend was not so lucky.
Blessings always
Someone very close to me was abused by her boyfriend. If it happens just once, head for the door and don't look back. Don't assume it will never happen again.
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Beautiful Maria, thank you for the comment and blessings, you are welcome. You are right no one should be abused and all abuse needs to aired in the sunlight exposed, so it will stop even in the darkness.
Blessings and hugs, love you also.
Shyron,
This is heart breaking yet bless you for raising awareness and 'talking' about abuse out loud. No one should be hurt - ever.
Love you and holding you in my heart, Maria
- Author
Dear Shauna, thank you for you comments and for sharing, yes show what is happening and let all see what the abusers are capable of.
I remember that "hell no we won't go" when both my brothers went to Vietnam.
I hope "let the bruises show' catches on and the abusers will think twice before hitting anyone.
Blessings and hugs to you my dear friend.
Shyron, this is very powerful. "Let the bruises show" should become a world-wide mantra, just as "hell no, we won't go" became one during the Viet Nam war.
I'm sharing this piece to get the word out and to have every citizen shouting "let the bruises show"!
- Author
Yes Nadine, the stories are true, my friend Linda was murdered by her soon to be ex-husband.
Blessings and hugs to you my dear friend.
- Author
RTalloni, thank you for the sympathy and the comment.
I think that your belief is spot on.
Women have been made to feel they are worthless without him
And they will be helpless if he were gone
When they have heard that sermon for so long
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Blessings and Hugs dear friend.
Sorry but my name does not come up unless I sign in again. Tried that before with untold hassle, so I better reply in this way.
Gosh Shyron it your poem was the result of a true story, then I hope the abuser of the first poem got a Jail sentence.
For the suffering and consequential loss of your friend I am very sad, but I am glad you are speaking up on her behalf for the sake of others. I have come to believe that women think it is not worth the risk to speak up against an abuser. If she is not protected by others, she may wind up having to go home with him at the end of the day. Thank you for writing the poems and putting this hub together as a tribute to your friend. Yes, let the bruises show.
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Devika (DDE), I am glad the person you knew got away from the abuse and is now safe from harm.
Hope all is well with you.
Blessings my friend.
I knew of someone who battled for many years with her husband. He beat her and ruined her life. After some she left him and that changed her a lot for the best. An issue that needs a lot of attention because many victims in such cases are still silent about their abusive relationships.
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Dear Frank, thank you for the compliment and for reading about my friend Linda.
Blessings always
wow this was so amazing Shyron.. mouth opened, chin dropped amazing
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John (Jodah), thank you for reading Linda's story. Linda was abused by not only her husband but by everyone who did not believe her and this town's police by refusing to protect her, something they are sworn to do.
Thank you for the comment and compliment on the poetry.
Blessings and hugs my friend.
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Au fait, my dear friend, thank you for your comment and for sharing this. I do appreciate you.
Blessings and Hugs dear friend.
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Dear beautiful Theresa (faith-reaper) It hurts my heart to hear about the waste of human life at the hands of abusers. I guess everyone knows someone or knows of someone who is killed or harmed by an abuser.
Thank you for your comment.
Blessings dear friend.
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Thank you Stella, for reading and the comment, yes anyone woman or man need to expose abuse to the light of day so it can be stopped.
Blessings my beautiful new friend. Shyron
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Larry, thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment.
Blessings
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Mike (mckbirdbks) thank you for the beautiful comment, I appreciate you.
Blessings my dear friend.
- Author
Ruby, Ruby my gem of a friend
Thank you for sharing your sister's story of strife
How many times she ran for her life
Happy she is saved being another man's wife
Glad her abuse she put to an end
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Blessings my gem of a friend
Domestic abuse is on the rise in our country as well, Shyron. It is a travesty and needs to be brought out into the open and the perpetrators exposed.. let the bruises show. This poetry is wonderful. Thank you for sharing Linda Martin's story.
A poignant tribute to Linda. If women would only educate themselves to realize how these situations usually develop . . . first the verbal abuse often out of the blue, and for no reason. Then maybe a little slap or throwing something at you with intention of creating fear, if nothing else at first, but that also escalates, and before you know it you are living a nightmare 24/7.
So well written. No one could have expressed it better. I understand exactly what you are saying. It's so important to get out of these relationships as quickly as possible and to let the bruises show even the first time so that people will know. Better yet to leave before there are bruises.
Bless you for shedding daylight on this horrible situation that is no doubt like so many others we will read about on the obituary page until we make it stop. Take care . . .
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Dear Flourish, I hope your loved one is safe and has gained the help of those around her to get help for her husband before it is to late.
Thank you so much for reading this. I appreciate you.
Blessings and hugs my dear friend.
- Author
Dear Paula, I know how this hit me, mostly because Linda was such a beautiful human being, and you wonder why would anyone want to hurt her. And the thing that was sickening was that the police refused to issue an order of protection for her, and her killer is out on bail right now even though he has made threats to kill two other people.
YES! Zero tolerance for any kind of abuse. No need to thank me, all of Linda's friends are working to stop abuse and many of them (Kris and Char) who knew about the abuse have make statements to the police and are trying to get the shooter's bail revoked.
Blessings and hugs dear friend.
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Bill, thank you for the comment. Yes it is an ugly epidemic, but I think it is not as bad as in other countries who teach their male population that women are inferior to all men and were created to amuse and for them to abuse. When abuse happens here it means there is something very wrong, because most of us are taught that all God's children are equally valuable and should treat each other accordingly.
Blessings always my friend
Dear Shyron,
This is a sad reality for far too many women today. Thank you for bringing awareness via your powerful poem about a beautiful life lost.
I agree ...let the bruises show!
A young wife and mother of a small child (boy) was killed a couple of years ago just three miles up the road from my small town in another small town. The entire community is in shock. The husband/father was enraged that his young wife was filing for divorce and custody of their small child. His family is well known in our county. The young wife drove to her workplace (a doctor's office) and pulled up in front of the office, with her enraged husband following right behind her. He had a gun and when the young wife had gotten out of the car and attempted to run inside the doctor's office, he shot her in cold blood and told her coworkers that they better go inside if they didn't want to see it happen. Now, the small child will grow up without his loving mother and no father. The young father has yet to exhibit any remorse. To top that off, the parents of the father are wanting custody of the child ...so sad. The young mother's parents have custody at the moment.
It breaks my heart to read about your lovely friend and know of many others who have suffered the same fate.
God bless you.
Will share everywhere.
We must never be silent, tell everyone, lesve snd msybe they can get the help they need. Thank you for this article, so many women need to read it. Stella
Thought provoking and disturbing.
Hello Shyron. This is a sad, yet common event. I agree that not being silent is the path to take. The loss, of your friend, weighs heavy on you. You honor her.
This is a must for all to read
An abuser strikes again and again watching her bleed
First it's the words that cut like a knife
Then the fists break and bruise, sometimes taking her life
When I see bruising day after day
I ask, " What happened? " She looks away
This happened to a sister of mine
She left him time after time
Only to return when he begs and pleads
Promising to never again commit these horrible deeds
Thank God she left him before it was too late
She lived to love again, knowing only goodness from her soulmate.
I'm so sorry for your loss of a friend, Linda. God bless...Hugs.
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Cathy, thank you for reading this and leaving a comment. Our sweet Linda as you say, will never be forgotten.
I hope that anyone in the situation Linda was in will let everyone know what is happening to them. Silence speaks louder that words and what the silence says is everything is alright, unless the abused says everything is not alright.
Everything worked out for me, and I like Linda, when he threatened me, I got out, but I did not tell so...there are those who still think I was to blame, and that is okay with me, I know better and have written proof of his mental state.
Thank you Shyron for shedding more light on this terrible epidemic. Our sweet Linda will never be forgotten. Let her story be heard so maybe many other lives will be saved.
This is so important. Having a loved one who recently left her husband because he threatened to kill her and her kids, I fully endorse speaking out and not protecting the abuser by keeping the violence secret. Secrets thrive in the dark. My loved one's husband has made threats to drown their toddler, call a family meeting then shoot her and the 3 kids execution-style and fake an emergency by dialing 911 then shooting first responders. He is an executive, Boy Scout leader, regular church goer and mentally ill (non compliant with medication). She has her work cut out for her. She has faced disbelief and blame by the legal system and even some friends who know have made themselves suddenly scarce. I urge anyone who is facing this situation to get help immediately and for the rest of us to donate to our local women's shelter.
Shyron......This takes my breath away. Domestic abuse is a cancer on our society, a destroyer of families. We are all involved and must be part of the solution. Be aware, alert and step in if we must. The isolation, fears and "cover-ups" must stop. Believe the woman, listen to them, protect them and especially the children.
Zero tolerance for abuse, neglect & violence. Thank you Shyron for this important work and may Linda's memory fuel our resolve! Peace, Paula
It's such an ugly epidemic in this country. Only by raising awareness and bringing this sickness out of the closet and into the light of day can we make this go away. Well done, my friend.
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