Dark circles

most women will

never let you know

how they are treated

and why

but sometimes if you look closely

her shoulders are slumped

and walk defeated

her voice is a sigh

because she cares too much

about bills and packaged food that kills

so she makes dinner

and gets thinner

because she starved a week to buy

a birthday cake and

a suit and tie

and if you look closely

at her swollen feet

you'll know she never

sat once on a taxi seat

because she says she loves to walk

in hot sultry afternoons

most women will

never let you think

their bruises are gifts

from husbands who drink

and will in fact laugh

a convincing laugh

and say they fell hard enough

to hit the kitchen sink.