Deborah Matusko
Slaps brighten her pale cheeks.
She whimpers as
the hailstorm pounds her flesh.
Kicks are the worst,
leaving black and blue shoe prints.
She gasps, forces breath
into her lungs,
grows quiet.
It’s over.
Mother needs a break.
***
Deborah Matusko has published her poetry in Freshwater, Fresh Ink, and The Awakenings Review. A writer of dark poetry, she appreciates the opportunity to share her poems with others who know the value of works that speak to topics not often seen in literary journals.