DIARY OF AN ABUSED HUSBAND
by Hamlet


He came to me bruised and battered
His face swollen red and sore
Once proud now devastated
Traumatized and shattered
For succour he did me implore
His whole body debilitated

Abuse that dared not speak its name
That affected one in six men
Afraid to admit impotence
Something men would disdain
Pain endured again and again
Victim of constant violence

In church every Sunday morning
A happy couple so content
Her doting arms him holding
Nothing about her gave me warning
Of any future suffering
Her nature false and so beguiling



A manager at Nat West
Officious voluptuous
He asked her out on that day
Gladly accepted his request
Adoring and so glamorous
Infatuation led him astray

With her damned hand trouble began
When they discussed the honeymoon
He tried her requests to refuse
To visit Egypt was his plan
She said we're going on a cruise
She always won he learned too soon

He remembered just one week
As he endured the sarcasm
Her criticism and nagging
His aching sore and red blotched cheek
Slapping gave her an orgasm
Her strength her pride she loved to speak

His mind went back to that Monday
When he had missed the garbage truck
Forgetting the night before
Her orders he failed to obey
With lethal force his face she struck
Drew blood and nearly broke his jaw

Tuesday she stood with robust frame
Demanded a new leather coat
Gave him her measurements and size
He said it cost too much in shame
With fury with her hand she smote
Against his face would agonise

Wednesday he clutched his face so sore
The agony he endured each day
The red scar visible to all
Was she just a merciless whore?
For her abuse she had to pay
Unaware of what was to befall

All his intentions were to fail
As she confronted him at the door
Strapping buxom and so tall
Against her his puny size did pale
He gazed at her in fear and awe
Felt so diminutive and small

What time is this she said with voice stern?
You will now hang that lithograph
You always want to procrastinate
Annette he tried to sound so firm
Leave me alone I need a bath
I am so tired don't irritate

She said I have a solution
Just something for that tired feeling
He began to shake and to perspire
With hand on hip in resolution
With her hand sent his face reeling
A terrible agony of fire

He stood in a dazed condition
I see you look so much awake
You will hang up that picture
He could not find the right position
As with a hammer he made it break
This really raised the anger in her

He could not avoid the slap
His hands held down in submission
The resonance of a loud crack
A sound like a thunderclap
Blow after blow in repetition
No way to resist the attack

He pleaded for her clemency
Please do not hit me on that cheek!
My left cheek inflamed and so raw
Please try to act mercifully
Take your slapping don't you speak
If you resist I'll whack you more

Three blows smashed hard
He made no attempt to resist
The pain he had to undergo
To her power he did abase
Dreaded the force of her hand and fist
Total obedience to show

He told me this in confusion
What he said in confidence
She said marriage is for life
I soothed him in his depression
Showed me sorrow and penitence
A life sentence of pain and strife

Yet he told me she really cared for him
Would often caress him like a child
Punished him in loving devotion
Of her love he would be unaware
Her slaps were in passion done
Adored him with tender emotion