SESAME STREET (IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK..)

She waits silently as he violently lays hands on her mother
Covers the eyes of her baby brother
Chanting that through the bruises we still love each other
WE-STILL-LOVE-EACH-OTHER!
‘Cause God says we supposed to have love for one another
No matter what happens we should weather the storm
Whether it is on point or far from the norm
Whether if it does or doesn’t get better
We should stay strong even if this goes on and on
We should be tough as raw cow hide LEATHER
Stick together like a pole and a tether
Never let anyone see the hurt
Never let anyone see that the relationship doesn’t work
Never let anyone see a wrinkle in the fabric of our life’s shirt

My mother told me,
“Stay level-
We live on Sesame Street and me and your father are Ernie and Burt
Even though sometimes baby, he can be a grouch
Mama stays strong when he becomes a monster for your mother’s cookies
And you should be too and should cover your ears and pretend you didn’t hear your mother say ouch…
And if we’re in the room arguing and he hits me because he’s been drinking
I want you to take your baby brother and go into the living room and hide behind the paisley couch
And try to go to sleep or hum him a tune to keep or rather block the monstrosity of this reality out”
And I would try to hum but the arguments were too loud
My baby brothers tears soaking up my blouse
Like a stream letting out to the ocean
My brother and I of the same notion just two different bodies
Two of the same boat, both of us floating
On the winding river of catastrophe
Going through the motions like we’ve done so many times before
Because mama’s too proud to open her mouth
So we suffer
Suffering right next to the door of a better life where someone on the other side called “HELP” knocks but she ignores
Earplugs in while she sleeps, even snores
On opportunity for something more
Then Maybelline covered eyes and arms that bear sweaters in the summertime
And sweat pours from her pores of abuse she’s become used to misuse
Which by now is Old news

Which by now is an Old noose and she hangs like strange fruit
And we-
Hang with her because when she ruined her life
She ruined ours too…

BY: TRUTH B REAL

(STOP THE VIOLENCE A TRIBUTE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE)