{"sf1_id":1167239,"sf2_id":"AnKAMoEe","title":"Why I Went Back","author":"charles_they","words":122,"posted_at":"2017-03-29T21:28:43.000Z","tags":["Abuse","Clean","Domestic Abuse","No Yiff","Poem","Poetry","Tanka"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1167239-why-i-went-back","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/AnKAMoEe","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/09/a9/09a95b6c-24a9-474f-b4b1-fa081264261a","description":"A series of tankas on TW: domestic abuse.","content":"### Why I Went Back\n\nAsk why I went back\u0026nbsp;\n\nFrown while prodding fresh bruises\u0026nbsp;\n\nDoubt my drunk doorknob\u0026nbsp;\n\nJudgement gavels land heavy\u0026nbsp;\n\nCrushing not the abuser\u0026nbsp;\n\nCount how many steps\u0026nbsp;\n\nCall into question my tale\u0026nbsp;\n\nPush me to answer\u0026nbsp;\n\nTestimony only counts\u0026nbsp;\n\nWhen concussed and still bleeding\u0026nbsp;\n\nRaise a keen eyebrow\u0026nbsp;\n\nSharpen it like cutlery\u0026nbsp;\n\nPress it to my palm\u0026nbsp;\n\nSympathy dies with each call\u0026nbsp;\n\nShredded by inconvenience\u0026nbsp;\n\nBlame my attitude\u0026nbsp;\n\nTell me not to provoke rage\u0026nbsp;\n\nWince when I explode\u0026nbsp;\n\nA silenced muzzle brings peace\u0026nbsp;\n\nEnding domestic disputes\u0026nbsp;\n\nSay it's such a shame\u0026nbsp;\n\nClean up my mess one last time\u0026nbsp;\n\nAsk why I went back\u0026nbsp;\n\nGo wheel away the body\u0026nbsp;\n\nIgnoring my children's eyes.\n\n* * *\n\n-Charles Michael Averin","series":{"name":"Poetry Postings","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1161806-skytrain.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1167805-who-s-good.json"}}