This Body Mine

You will not break me
those that came before you tried
The dark man with black eyes
‘It’s for your own good’
as he raised his deformed hand
purple bruised skin
he tried to whip me
into submission —
for I was not his child
the damage he inflicted
more mental than physical
but I refused to give in
to his sordid whims.

Along came the hungry lion
feeding on the lamb
of innocent youth
a naive girl —
with a narrow world
stalking my every move
asking me to prove
my love, so I did
and the only light
that came from it
was a beautiful child
in my likeness
born with wisdom
in her eyes.

And then, the crooner
the devil in disguise
charming with his lies
a mental case
that embraced
the darkness
in his soul —
consuming my light
to build his fire
from within
but in the end
he did not win.

Through all my life
This body mine —
this brilliant mind
with scars
with flaws
with tender cause
will always be
my sanctuary —
and no one will
ever take that
from me.

Linda Lee Lyberg is a wife, mother, artist, published poet and author. She resides in Mesa, AZ with her husband Pete (aka The Big Viking) of 24 years, and her dog, Ricky Bobby. Linda writes various forms of poetry, as well as short stories. You can read more of her works at: charmedchaos.com
and purchase anthologies containing her work here: Amazon Author Page

2 Comments on “This Body Mine”

Sherry Marr
June 10, 2020

I love that beautiful child with wisdom in her eyes. A wonderful poem of the journey made. We survived; we thrived. They did not win.

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- Linda Lee Lyberg
  June 10, 2020
  
  Yes! Thank you Sherry.
  
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