Love's Darker Side

Her husband who abused her in the cemetery lay

And for taking his life she is in prison today

In the eyes of the law the taking of any human life is a serious offense

Though her killing of him was in self defense

Both in their late twenties they were married for two years

A relationship that started with love for her ended in tears

Of love she does not have a happy story to tell

She spends most of her time in her prison cell

Before they were married love between them did grow

And of the happiness that true love brings of she did know

She did not realize that his true self  to her then he did not show

That he was one lacking in the bright inner glow

When married the love between them quickly wilted like a flower

And over her he gradually asserted his personal power

At a beating from him that she did receive

At the still birth of their child for months she did grieve

One evening after coming home from the pub her he did physically attack

But this time was different she decided to fight back

From the kitchen table she grabbed a pointy carving knife

One stab was enough to bring an end to his life

In the high court by jury for murder she was tried

But on a verdict of manslaughter they did decide

Ten years in prison of which she has already served five

At least her terrible marriage she did survive

One who has known of love's darker side

That she suffered physically and mentally at the hands of her abuser cannot be denied

That we learn from the past does seem true to say

And for some of our mistakes the price can be huge to pay.