There Was a Fight
There was a fight in this house
While I slept
Unusually from 5 till midnight.
There was a fight
And someone smashed the desktop.
No, not mine
But even so …
The police were here
I heard them come
And vaguely saw legs move past my door
‘Police. Who called? Is this the house?’
Disembodied voices spoke
Then I passed out again
Not knowing why they came, nor even if
They came for real.
There was a fight last night
In this house
The desktop smashed
Because it is not his to take
A man arrested; gone to jail
A man who spoke of love and care
While anger bred relentless violence in his soul.
There was a fight in this house last night
While I slept unusually from 5 till midnight.
Why could I not wake?

Domestic Violence
©Jeanihess