“I support many causes. Domestic Violence (DV), is one of the most important ones. I grew up watching my father, beating my Mother. My Mother always fought back. By the time I was 3 years old, she had enough & divorced my father. But in our culture (Jamaican), beating & abusing Women was the norm. Sadly it’s still in full practice & many fail to see or care to the lives taken, damages done to Women & Children. It can last a lifetime.
This did however have an affect on me. I was never physically abused by any man. Instead I became hardened, defensive, combative, over protective & willing to fight to the death at the drop of a hat. Men were scared of me. This was the purpose to protect myself, but I experienced other forms of abuse;verbal, emotional, psychological & by monetary means. I lost my femininity, and marinated in my masculinity, simply to survive…
These experiences tainted my views of self & life. This poem derived from this experience & finally breaking free from the hold it had on my existence.”~Maxwanette A Poetess
