I used to look with pity 
at the women on the news
there bruised and battered faces
lashes matted with tears
dirty little children
hugging her scraped and bloody knees
I used to wonder why they stayed
why they just wouldn't leave
I used to be angry when I 
saw thw children cry
But then one day 
I saw myself in the mirror
My daughter on my hip
black and purple on my eye
sticky red blood on my nose
It wasn't the first time
but it was the last
I don't really know why 
I stayed all those times
But I know that I did
I kept telling myself
I promised unconditional love
It wasn't right to walk away
The times that I wanted to 
he was always to near
He tried to kill my body
One small blow at a time
That wasn't what bothered me the most
when he tried to kill my spirit
Slapping my feelings
And stinging my pride
Twisting my mind
Taking away my choice
That is when I stood up
I grabbed my daughter
Heaving her across my pregnant belly
Walked out the door not knowing
where I was going
For my courage I was rewarded
My life is good
My children safe
My new husband a saint
I still have pity for all
the women who cry themselves to sleep
who fear for thier children
and who don't yet know how to leave
my mother was one of those
and then me
what got me to go
was wanting more for my children
my daughter to know real love
my son to know how to be a man
children live what they learn 
and learn what they see
so in the end it wasn't for me
but for my children
what ever thier reason may be
I hope they find it soon