COMING THIS FALL- BRUISED LOVE BY NANETTE M. BUCHANAN

[Nanette Buchanan]

Ms. Smith

Look, there out the window, isn’t that Ms. Smith?
She’s so well dressed; her beauty truly a gift.
You say those children all belong to her
Oh what a blessing to a proud husband, I’m sure.
What, no husband?
One, two, three boys and the girl carrying the bags,
My, my, what happened on the path she chose?
She had blossomed to be a rose.
No, no don’t say that, her life is a common fad…
Wait one minute that limp she never had!
You say she took to alcohol and drugs,
What you say the men in her life were common thugs?
Ms. Smith had potential, she had a jump on many, a clean educated start
Yes, you are right she had a giving heart.
I guess she gave her love real easy, looked for love in the wrong place.
Wait I didn’t hear you. You said her last mate beat her in the face?
She’s a victim of abuse and still she goes on.
To see her from this window, one would think nothing was wrong
The problems women encounter, one never knows.
To live daily as a victim diminishes one’s goals.
Is she moving forward, what about her self-esteem?
It’s good she’s still working, but it’s not exactly what I mean.
She’s lost a part of her character with each violent act or blow,
without character and self-esteem, how far will she go?
I pray Ms. Smith won’t surrender to the negatives she has seen.
I pray Ms. Smith remains strong to walking a path that is clean.
It is easy to make excuses or hang her head low,
listening to the criticism and ridicule as she goes
My prayers go with her for indeed she needs spiritual strength.
A comfort to her soul will see her the length.
Oh, look she’s waving at us, she noticed our stare.
“Hey, Ms. Smith, how are you?” I’m not just asking; I care!

©Copyright 2000 “Thoughts” by Nanette M. Buchanan

VISIT MY BLOG FOR AN EXCERPT FROM BRUISED LOVE
www.myspace.com/ipendesigns