Wound - Silent Scream, A Poem by Ann

Wound - Silent Scream

Words wound round a silent scream Heart Stopping Jaw dropping Nobody knows, how deep it goes My silent scream Not even me.

Walking a tightly wound tight rope Stomach knotting Joints popping Begging, bleeding, floor kneeling My silent scream Alone, only me.

Tiny fingers wound round my thumb Baby hugging Fist ducking RUN! Running. I whisper My silent scream I will leave.

The poem takes you through the abuse I experienced to the point when I decided to leave. The time scale is incredibly compressed. The experiences in my poem probably span at least 3 years.

I like the title which can mean both Wound as in injury and Wound as in 'string wound up tight' .

When I was stuck in the relationship I felt trapped, like inside I was screaming all the time. I had pushed all those screams into a deep hole cored through my heart and stuck a lid over it. Wound also refers to the tension that was present all the time by the end of our relationship. Not knowing what would set him off next.

My baby probably saved my life. I got the courage to leave when I realised I could not keep my child safe in that environment. It was by no means a lightning decision and it took me 8 months of planning and vacillating to build up the bravery required to safely escape.

It's only a brief poem but I hope it gives you a window into what it felt like through those times. ~Ann