Poems about abuse can be some of the rawest and most powerful works of art, capturing the pain, confusion, and desperation that survivors of abuse often feel. These poems can take many forms, from stark confessions to subtle metaphors, but they all share a common thread of exploring the aftermath of trauma.
Many poets use their work to process their own experiences of abuse or to give voice to the experiences of others. They may delve into topics such as domestic violence, sexual assault, emotional abuse, or the lasting impact of childhood abuse. In doing so, they often confront uncomfortable truths and challenge societal norms around victim blaming and the silence that often surrounds abuse.
‘Eat Me’ by Patience Agbabi tells the story of an incredibly unhealthy relationship based around control, one-sided lust, and food.
The poem explores the emotional and physical abuse inflicted on the speaker by her partner, who objectifies and fetishizes her based on her weight. The poem is incredibly disturbing and effective in depicting this form of abuse, so much so that the poem should be regarded as one of the most important examples of poems on this topic.
When I hit thirty, he brought me a cake,
three layers of icing, home-made,
a candle for each stone in weight.
‘Fooled Me for Years with the Wrong Pronouns’ by Gwyneth Lewis explores an abusive relationship, with Lewis writing an anti-love poem.
The poem portrays a manipulative and emotionally abusive relationship where the speaker is constantly blamed for doubting their partner's loyalty. The partner makes the speaker cry and miss trains, causing them emotional distress.
You made me cry in cruel stations, So I missed many trains. You married others In plausible buildings. The subsequent son Became my boss. You promised me nothing
‘To Speak of Woe That Is in Marriage’ by Robert Lowell is a memorable, confessional poem. In it, lol taps into the life experiences of a wife who is fearful of her lustful husband.
The poem relates to abuse in several ways. The speaker describes her husband's physical and emotional abuse towards her, including his promiscuity and alcoholism, which puts her in danger and makes her feel powerless. She also describes how she has to protect herself from her husband's abuse, such as tying his car key to her thigh to prevent him from leaving and potentially harming her.
“The hot night makes us keep our bedroom windows open.
‘Hard Rock Returns to Prison’ is an allegory of oppression and forced submission of Black inmates in America.
The poem 'Hard Rock Returns to Prison from the Hospital for the Criminal Insane' explores the theme of abuse in several ways. The titular character, Hard Rock, is a black prisoner who has been beaten and mistreated by the guards in prison, as evidenced by his scars and broken teeth. His return to prison is symbolic of how the system of incarceration perpetuates cycles of violence and abuse.
‘Red Roses’ by Anne Sexton is a story of child abuse told by a narrator, but with the vernacular, that represents the emotions and thoughts of the child undergoing the abuse.
This poem tells the story of a young boy named Tommy and his mother, who dances with him to the tune of "Red Roses for a Blue Lady." The mother throws Tommy across the room, causing him to receive red roses in various places on his body. Tommy loves his mother despite the abuse and pretends to be her ball.
Derek Walcott’s ‘Ruins of a Great House’ combines themes of historical and cultural abuse with factual reasoning and literary references to bring together a massive emotional conflict in the Speaker’s perception.
This poem talks about the aftermath of abuse. It discusses cultural abuse from colonization by Great Britain. It shows us the horrors of what consequences await those who survive and the tragic lives of those who came before.
Stones only, the disjecta membra of this Great House,
‘Duplex’ by Jericho Brown explores physical and mental abuse, looking at how memory can impact a person.
The father in the poem is described as "fast and awful" and capable of hitting "hard as a hailstorm." This language suggests that the father was a physically abusive in the speaker's life, leaving visible marks on their body. The poem touches on the lasting impact of such abuse in terms of the physical scars and emotional trauma it can leave behind.
‘The Hands that Signed the Paper’ is a war protest poem that derides the appalling apathy and ruthlessness of the rulers toward ordinary citizens.
This poem very effectively talks about the power abuse by a country's leaders. The whole verse reiterates the apathy of power-hungry toward their own people who are dying or are in a pitiful state. Thomas' poem portrays the abuse of power by the five kings who signed the treaty, leading to the death and suffering of many.
‘Beautiful’ by Carol Ann Duffy explores the physical and mental damage that can come from beauty by tracing the lives of four women.
The poem explores the idea of how men objectify women, leading to their obsession with beauty, which in turn leads to an act of violence. This kind of behavior and attitude toward women can be considered as a form of abuse. The poem is filled with allusions and references to history that makes the poem all the more interesting.
‘Daddy’ by Sylvia Plath uses emotional, and sometimes, painful metaphors to depict the poet’s opinion of her father and other men in her life.
This poem can be read as a powerful expression of the psychological and emotional impact of abuse, particularly the abuse that can occur in a family setting. The speaker describes her father in powerful and oppressive terms, suggesting that he was both physically and emotionally abusive.
‘The Snowman on the Moor’ explores the turbulent and abusive relationship between the speaker (presumably Plath herself) and her male spouse.
The poem explicitly discusses abusive relationships from the point of view of the female victim. By incorporating personal pronouns in the latter half of the poem, Plath makes the poem increasingly relatable to any and all sufferers of abuse within romantic relationships. Considering the poet's personal experiences, the content is not only relatable but also accurately portrays the seemingly endless cycle of abuse, wherein the victim ends up returning to their abuser, albeit reluctantly.
Stalemated their armies stood, with tottering banners:
‘To Beat the Child Was Bad Enough’ by Maya Angelou is a poem about the abuse of a child and the ways in which they suffered, mentally and physically.
Abuse is one of the primary topics at work in this poem. The speaker is focused on a specific child's life and how they were forced, from an early age, to live in pain. They were beaten, the poet implies, on a regular basis.
‘A Kind of Love, Some Say’ by Maya Angelou explores the horrors of abusive relationships, highlighting that there is no love in pain.
Abuse is central to the message of this poem. Angelou highlights the inexcusable nature of abusive relationships, stating that "sadists" will never know love. As such, she implies that there is no love in abusive relationships, and therefore no reason to remain in one. This is reinforced through the oxymoron "Lover's fist", which highlights the disparity between lover and abuser. This is a powerful poem that inspires self-reflection, as Angelou calls readers to assess the way they are treated and how they treat others.
‘My Papa’s Waltz’ uses a rowdy dance between a father and son as a metaphor for the darker undercurrents of masculine relationships.
The extent of the abuse endured by the speaker is ambiguous to say the least. Roethke's poem offers a single glimpse into just one night in the lives of this family, however, that peek is exceptionally layered and revealing. The aggressive nature of the poet's diction and tactile/kinesthetic imagery is meant to underscore the father's antagonistic personality. At the very least, they are callously rough with their family, exerting an authority that takes advantage of their love, and devotion.
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