Wait

by Randa-Noel Johnson

Wait--for the blows to fall
Wait--for the blows to stop
Wait--'til the stitches come out

Wait

Wait--for an hour alone
Wait--for a day of peace
Wait 'til he's sober again

Wait

Wait for the snide remark
Wait for the fight to start
Wait for the honeymoon phase

Wait

Wait for the shelter space
Wait for your friends to notice
Wait for the Lord to soften his heart

Wait

Wait for her check to come
Wait for the booze to run
Think she is the only one

Wait

I wake from a sound sleep to find my
hand on his wrist like a vise--I throw
his hand away from me like it was poison.
The fear in his eyes mirrors the
fear he's seen too often in mine.

Wait for the rage to build
Wait for the next damn fight
Wait till the cows come home
Hope fading like an old bruise

I wait no more for you.

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