2001/beaten

My aunt was
beaten as a young
wife.
My grandfather promised
death as justice
if it ever happened
again.
But it was my
grandmother
who went to get
her,
standing on the front
porch, refusing
to be turned away
until her daughter
was turned over.
She brought her home
with the daughter
she had of her own.
And she stayed
there until she
married again.

10/9/01