I Got Flowers Today (Poem)
When I was at The LYF Foundation event a few of the members narrated and acted out the following poem. Tonight I thought about it and decided to share. Let me know what you think:
It wasn’t my birthday or any other special day
We had our first argument last night,
And he said a lot of cruel things
that really hurt me.
I know he is sorry and didn’t mean
the things he said
Because he sent me flowers today.
I got flowers today.
It wasn’t our anniversary or any other special day
Last night he threw me into a wall
and started to choke me.
It seemed like a nightmeare.
I couldn’t believe it was real
I woke up this morning sore and bruised all over.
I know he must be sorry,
Because he sent me flowers today.
I got flowers today.
It wasn’t Mother’s Day or any other special day.
Last night he beat me up again.
And it was much worse than all the other times.
If I leave him, what will I do?
How will I take care of my kids?
What about money?
I’m afraid of him and scared to leave.
But I know he must be sorry
Because he sent me flowers today.
I got flowers today.
It was the day of my funeral.
Last night, he finally kileed me.
He beat me to death.
If only I had gathered
Enogh courage and strength to leave him,
I would not have gotten flower today.
Anonymous
(Retrieved from http://www.cafra.org/article407.html)
I think this is a really great poem, especially the part that acts as a warning. My boyfriend is a cop and he sees domestic violence all the time. He agrees with the notion that domestic violence almost always escalates. If a person experiences any level of violence in a relationship it is often advised that they get out because the violence is bound to increase in severity in the future.
This poem is very powerful. I had a friend who was once in a very abusive relationship and I saw as time and time again she would forgive him for the horrible things he did because he as the poem puts it would “give her flowers” afterwards. Thankfully she came to her senses and left him, enlisting the help of her close friends to support her. I think that abusive relationships are really much more commmon than people realize and I am glad that you are trying to make everyone realize this.