Beast Man

By: Jennifer Lightburn

I should have known the first time my cheek slammed against your hand

You were a man transformed to a beast

Slandered with carelessness, you beseeched malice and contempt upon my name

To friends, family, co-workers and strangers

Complete bullshi#

Yes, I am a woman who for a moment in time lost her mind – that is the truth

Prozac, Effexor and Zoloft were my best friend

A legalized crutch to hold one side up

For my momma was dead and I lost contact with God

Bottled up with fury from failure and disappointment

I lost my fortune

Forgotten about freewill and my natural strength from being a woman

Crippled by your tongue and your fist

I allowed myself to go tumbling and fumbling

And an angel took hold and held me until my nerves were calm

Showed me how I had the might to cease the madness in my life

Promised that she would not let me fall

Handcuffed I left you tumbling and fumbling before turning back to my old person

A credit card swipe away from bankruptcy but happy and free from your misery

Found love in the angel who helped me take a peak out of one eye

And I remembered how to pray

You liked the change and so you call me out my name

Tried to guilt me into coming back to your sad and pitiful life

“I knew it!” you yell, as if we were in the tenth grade

“She’s not allowed at our son’s basketball games”

You too must have forgotten about freewill

Who are you to say what can and cannot be in someone else’s private life

Say what you will when you see me

Let the beast come forth and be drop-kicked

With words of wisdom and defense

All because you cannot just let it be

Have to impose your havoc on my life

And you’re the one who couldn’t play nice

Still you point at me quoting scripture

I can understand your embarrassment

So please don’t worry about having to say hello or look in my direction

Because I’ll kindly look away

Just settle down beast man and understand

You lost your woman

Get over it