There once was a woman, eyes vibrant and blue
She had seen things…
Felt things…
And had beliefs that rang true.
But where was her voice?
One man was content to steal that voice.
By demanding
And screaming
That she had no other choice.
He shot down every vocalized thought that she had
He began ranting
And raving and
When she tried to speak, he was always around
To make sure that
She never found her voice
in the crowd.
He filled her with thoughts that would slowly employ her.
He would fill her with words
That were meant
To destroy her.
What she was saying was wrong.
What she was saying was dumb.
What she was saying would make
others feel down in the dumps.
“That woman over there, she will think this.
That man on the corner will find you amiss.
The ones that you love will stop loving you at all.
The ones that you care most for will wish for your fall.”
And on he went, with one goal in mind.
To crush her.
To flatten her.
And make her voice so defined.
Because you see, he knew what was right.
To think
And to feel.
And to back in a fight.
He knew what she needed
She had no say
He knew what she wanted
At the end of the day.
And for some reason…
She believed it.
There once was a woman with eyes vibrant and blue
She had seen things…
Felt things…
And had beliefs that rang true.
But where was her voice?
It belonged to the man
Who had slowly crept in
And made his demands
And made her give-in.
It belonged to his words
That were there when she walked.
They were there when she slept.
They were there when she talked.
They were there when she ate.
They were there when she sat.
They were there when she
Felt the most ugly. And fat.
They were there whether the man
Was there or away.
They were there when she laughed.
They were there when she played.
But where was her voice?
There once was a man with a smile delightful
He also had seen things…
Felt things…
And what he believed was insightful.
But where was his voice?
One woman never thought twice about stealing his voice.
By insisting.
And claiming.
That he had no other choice.
When he opened his mouth
To say something profound
He found his thoughts quickly
Were pinned to the ground.
She shot down his ideas.
His words.
His passion.
She shot down his dreams.
His goals.
And his fashion.
When he tried to speak, she was always around
To make sure that
He never found his voice
in the crowd.
She filled him with words
That were meant only to hurt him.
She dethroned him with thoughts
That were demeaning and certain.
What he felt that he needed was deemed
No need at all.
What he wanted for some reason
Was never his call.
“You must be plain stupid, to have feelings like that.
You must be an idiot to try and pass off that crap.
You must stop your crazy and ridiculous thoughts,
Before everyone sees you and laughs and scoffs.”
And on she went, with one goal in mind.
To deflate him.
To discourage him.
And make his voice so defined.
Because you see, she knew what was best.
For him.
For her.
For every life’s test.
She knew what he needed.
He had no say.
She knew what he wanted
At the end of the day.
And for some reason…
He believed it.
There once was a man with a smile delightful
He also had seen things…
Felt things…
And what he believed was insightful.
But where was his voice?
It belonged to the woman
Who had slowly crept in
And made her demands
And made him give-in.
It belonged to her words
That were there when he walked.
They were there when he slept.
They were there when he talked.
They were there when he ate.
They were there when he sat.
They were there when he
Felt like a useless doormat.
They were there whether the woman
Was there or away.
They were there when he worked.
They were there when he played.
But where was his voice?
The years trickled on
As we all know they do.
Until one day the man
And the woman were through.
Because the voices which they each
thought the other had taken
Were both somewhere there
Though buried and broken.
And the same voices that once
Said those two words “I do”
Said to each other
“I can no longer stand you.”
“I want my own life.
I want my own voice.
I want my own thoughts.
And it is my choice.”
And so two more people
Who should have been great
Fell prey to the notion
That failure is fate.
So, where were their voices?
O, where were their voices
When they needed them most?
When their determination waned
When their love started to coast?
When a simple “I’m sorry”
Or a sincere “I love you,”
Would have carried the power
To make all things improve?
When one compliment
One remark
One moment of praise
Could have lifted their heads
And united their gaze.
Sadly, soon the voices they had
Which were both in full use
Looked back and recalled only
Years of abuse.
And those who would hear them
Wouldn’t hear them for long.
They got tired and weary of
The same angry songs.
Then one day they found
That they were each truly alone.
Their laughter had left them.
Their souls were bare-boned.
They’ve both found their voices.
But, pray tell, at what cost?
They’ve used up their choices.
And they truly are lost.
Until one day new voices
So cheerful and sweet
Somehow find them, and love them,
And lift them clean off of their feet.
And they’re given a chance
To use their voices again.
Or to lose them.
Or to give them.
Or to meet the same ends.
Two voices once heard
By no one at all
Are given the chance
To now make the right call.
Voices come and voices go.
Where, this time, will your voice go?
Dan Pearce, Single Dad Laughing
