Never Say Never

You never thought you'd lose your voice

How quickly he took it away

 Your silence replaced with liquor and noise

The game you swore you'd never play

You laid down your life to hold on forever

a duty filled wife you thought you were clever

bound to a man, controlled by his tether

You sweet foolish girl! Never say never

And then in the darkness you fought off his hand

Swallowing shame and drinking his lies

Taking the blame for his failed plan

He laughed at your pain and dismissed your cries

Never make a promise you can't keep

Never let the others see you weak

Never let the enemy see you asleep

Never need permission just to speak

And left on a lonely road

there in the freezing night

the drunkenness

the loneliness

the will you'd lose to fight

There in the dark

waiting for rescue

reality stark

this moment's to test you

Never hurt the children

Never risk your life

Never force his will. Then,

he'll never wield "the knife"

The future before you

The next forty years

The cold cleared your memory

The dark stoked your fears

And there in the glow 

of blue and red lights

You knew what you know

You reclaimed your rights

You vomited shame

You sweat out your fears

You laid down the blame

and let out your tears

Never ride the river 

Never fish the lakes

Never draw the arrows from the quiver

for the little he gives the more he takes

You're in love with an apparition

a  faltering  facade

You've  broken with tradition

and smashed your vow to God

And as he disappears

You refuse to end your searching

and finally, the smoke clears

but shame's shadows are still lurking

Never forget the rage in his voice

Never forget that you made the choice

Never be desperate for love that demands

Never be victim to pretense's plans

Never confuse control with admiration

Never ignore that shame is victimization

Never believe you'll convince him to treat you better

Never, sweet girl. 

Never say never. 

JM 2021

"For God has said,  "I will never fail you.  I will never abandon you." So we can say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? " -Hebrews 13:5 (NLT)