Still Singing...

Drum roll beatings echo
across my mind
drowning out all
beyond staccato beat
of slap and fist.
Blood pounds,
heartbeat
rhythm keeps pace.

Don’t kill my muse.
Don’t let your thunder
quiet my words.
Don’t silence forever the mind’s music.
And please, oh please--
don’t take my song.

For all your threats and words of fear
Are naught but verbal and physical abuse.
Deep within I hold the cord
That I must pull and cut me loose.

Scattered pages strewn across the floor-
Splattered in blood, wrinkled, torn.
Left behind: but it no longer matters,
In freedom is a new song born.