i spoke up,

"he is hurting me."

but all they did was search for bruises

and when they found none, they simple looked up

"you've been mistaken. he is not."

what they never saw was that

i'd grew up to be a tree and 

it didn't sit right with him to see me so

                                  t a l l    a n d   m i g h t y

so he took his axe and cut me down,

"babe, do you really think anyone else could love you?"

                   a n d

"try and walk away but you'll come back."

                  a n d

"i am sorry.i need you in my life. stay. i didn't mean it."

my beautiful trunk had been aimed at one too many times

my roots and leaves had withered to a dull helplessness

he tore me down until i was but

a paper where you wrote apologies

i spoke up a little louder

"he is hurting me."

and yet again they searched for bruises

 but found tear filled eyes and blood stained thighs

so they said what they saw

"you are."

he is hurting me

and i can't walk away

why can't you see?