April PAD Challenge — Day Ten

Prompt: Use How (something) as your title and write a poem

How to Trap a Wife

2005

you wrenched me, stripped bare
from the womb of my family
aborted all hopes of friendship
and crucified me at the altar
of your hometown kin

isolated and alone
cleaved unto you

2009

she found me, wounded
bleeding from your tirades
and resuscitated me, washed
away all traces of you
until fate stabbed me again

ashamed and alone
crawled back to you

2011

he recovered me, half-crazed
deranged from your sick games
and resurrected my passion
loving me when you couldn’t
until cancer entombed me

scared and alone
humbled to you

2014

I salvaged me, renewed
unfathomed by your cruelty
and defiant of your rage
believing that my self-worth
was a blessing to cultivate

alive and happily alone
liberated from you

©April 2015, Lori Carlson