I
When my line connected to 9-1-1
I used my telephone like a gun.
The police operator heard me fake
my old man tried to take my life.
When the cops arrived
I smirked behind my eyes.
They saw my bloody nose
and assumed the blood
was from my husbands blows.
Rather than explain it was a joke
and I’d called them by mistake
I repeated what I said when I phoned
and didn’t tell what really happened.
. . .

Nicole Guthrie*

II
I had a little nose bleed
and my husband wouldn’t look at me.
He was watching baseball on TV.
He didn’t care about my nose bleed.
He’s a New York Yankees fan.
I turned off his baseball game
and sat myself in front of him.
He just ignored me and turned
the TV back on with a profanity.
That’s when I faked a call to police.
I was angry and trying to be funny.
But the cops took my husband to jail
and transported me to the hospital
where a doctor prescribed two aspirin
and sent me home.
. . .

Nicole Guthrie*

III
Since my husband’s apprehension
from well intentioned men and women
I’ve been getting lots of attention.
I was invited to join an organization
where I learned that I was a victim
of a battered woman syndrome.
That I have a psychological problem
that puts me under the control
of men who like to beat their women.
My new friends encourage me to complain
and be assertive about what men do wrong.
Considering all the support I’ve gotten
it wouldn’t be difficult to lie about my man.
The problem is, if I tell the truth
all my new friends will be pissed off!
. . .

Nicole Guthrie*

IV
Yesterday to my surprise
I was served a subpoena to testify.
Now I’ve got to appear in court
but can’t decide whether to take
what I said back or not.
The courts are full of therapists
paid to give opinions and theorize
about men, women and our lives.
If I tell the truth about my man
the prosecution will use a syndrome
to turn my words upside down.
They say police and my therapist
are paid to act in my best interest.
Yet, with all their schools and smarts
they can’t see through my lies!
So, I sit with my subpoena on my lap
and ask myself, “Should I take back
what I said to cops or not?”
. . .

Nicole Guthrie*

V
With mistaken words to cops.
I tied a noose of nasty words
around my husband’s neck;
then tightened them with lies.
It’s probably too late
to undo those knots.
It’s not that I’m afraid
to tell the truth in court.
I am a crook that made a false report.
But I’m afraid of that syndrome
that says testify against your man
or have a psychological problem.
So, I sit with this subpoena on my lap
and ask myself, “Should I take back
what I said to cops or not?”

 

 

"This poem can be copied with mention of authorship."

*Nicole Guthrie, is a professional model and has never been the victim of domestic violence.

This poem can be copied with mention of authorship.

Charles N. Guthrie, is an author who lives and writes in Southern California.

View other works of Charles N. Guthrie
(notmypants.com, justiceandrhyme.com, neptuneslaughter.com, walkingongoodnews.com, www.charlieguthrie.com, thepalaceguard.com)