Don=92t=20 Make It Pretty

When = you=92re writing of=20 beatings

Or children=20 abused

When = you=92re trying to=20 show

Why the = creep stands=20 accused

Keep it=20 raw

Let them see = what you=20 saw

As you = scream out your=20 rage

They will = still turn the=20 page

Horrified = yet enthralled=20

By the tale = you are=20 telling

Of evil = which hides in=20 the dark

This isn=92t = a=20 romance

It=92s not = Home and=20 Garden

Not a walk = in the=20 park

(Unless = that=92s where the=20 fiend found his mark)

It=92s abuse = you are=20 spelling

out for your = subscribers=20 to read

Let them = know how it=20 hurt

Don=92t be = begging their=20 pardon

The secret = you=92re=20 guarding

You=92re now = setting=20 free

Free to=20 fly,

Free to=20 soar

Free to = shout from the=20 rooftops

The secret = stops=20 here

This I=20 swear!

It=92s a = secret no=20 more

If you=20 dare

They won=92t = relish your=20 fear

They will=20 care

OK, that=92s = not=20 true

There are = always a=20 few

Who will = thrill to the=20 chase

And embrace = with great=20 pleasure

Your = bone-chilling=20 nightmare,

the pain = that=92s=20 inflicted

And yell=20 =93Boo!=94

If a = monster=92s=20 convicted

They will = think it=92s=20 deserved

And that = you=92ve got some=20 nerve

To serve up = as=20 abuse

What they = want as hors=20 d'oeuvres

=93It=92s a = lie!=94 they will=20 scream

As they = revel in sick=20 little dreams

And the = monkey that=20 rides them

Will feed. . = .

For the = twisted get off=20 when you bleed

But you=92re = not writing=20 for them

You are = trying to=20 tell

The good=20 people

Who live=20

Far away = from this=20 hell

You want = THEM to=20 listen

You want = THEM to=20 know

You are = trying to=20 show

These are = real tears=20 that glisten

As you tell = what it like=20 to live caged

Don=92t you = get it?=20

You want = them=20 enraged!

For those = broken and=20 battered

Their blood = spattered=20 =91round

As they=92re = knocked to=20 the ground

As they hear = their bones=20 break

And don=92t = know that=20 they=92ve made no mistake

That = black-hearted lout=20

Has = succeeded in faking=20 them out

The doubt = that=92s=20 created

Makes = abusers=20 elated

They thrive = on=20 confusion

Rely on=20 collusion

With their = chosen=20 victims

And society = blind=20

He prefers = that the mind=20 set

Is ignorant, = trusting=20 and kind

For that=92s = how he gets=20 off ,

With a con=20

. . .that = he=92s just been=20 maligned

When you = make the tale=20 pretty

You give lie = to the=20 pain

When you try = to=20 refrain

From the = plain ugly=20 truth

It just = covers it=20 up

But it still = stinks=20 below

And that = stench may need=20 airing

Let the = words you are=20 sharing

Take seed, = in the light=20 of truth=92s glow

Awareness = needs=20 light

Not some = bright window=20 dressing

Quit messing = around

Trying to = polish and=20 shine

You=92re = trying to=20 expose

Not excuse = the sick=20 swine

Let the = truth stand as=20 stated

As you = grimly relayed=20 it

Stamp it=20 authenticated

For the = whole world to=20 see

Tell them = just how it=20 feels

To be = battered or=20 raped

That the = monster escaped=20

Because = justice is=20 blind

Most of them = aren=92t=20 unkind

They just = want to=20 believe

That a = villain is locked=20 up

Without any=20 reprieve

Or they=92re = frightened=20 that looking too closely

Might just = bring it=20 home

No one wants = to believe=20 that a monster

Is still = free to=20 roam

So again, = for a third=20 time

I tell you = quite=20 plain

Keep the = message real=20 raw

And try to=20 refrain

From making = it=20 pretty

You can=92t, = so don=92t=20 bother

Yes, the = truth=20 hurts

But so does = a=20 lie

And maybe=20

If we get = truth=20 across

Less will = suffer and=20 die

CJH =96=20 06/06/00

Carol Y.=20 Huber =A9 - 05/17/00

Carol=20 Y. Huber is a Wordsmith who writes Poetry, Essays and other = =91Stuff=92. Once upon a time she had the = unofficial=20 job title of =93The = Paradox Lady=94.=20 She kept it. Nowadays she = is=20 somewhat known in Dallas poetry circles for both solo performance poetry = and as=20 a member of =93Fine Piece of Mischief=94; an ensemble group of some of = fine female=20 poets. Her writings ask = questions,=20 pose challenges, and often offer possible answers. Any answers are = offered with=20 a gleam in her eye and this reminder:

Answers=20 that work for her may or may not work for anyone else.