Bruises

Bruises to the left
And bruises to the right
Bruises that she couldn't keep
Hidden out of sight

Plaster on her arm
And a scratch above her eye
Two busted lips had warned her
It was not wise to cry

He hit when times were rough
He hit when she was late
Surely she wouldn't have married him
If she had known this fate

The bruises got more regular
People stopped and starred
She wondered what they thought of her
Or if they even cared

The knife held to her throat
Was for her the final straw
He would not touch her one more time
She would not stay for more

She planned to the very last detail
She laid the gun by the bed
And when he came into the room
She fired until he was dead

Bruises to the left
Bruises to the right
Bruises that she couldn't keep
Hidden out of sight

No more scratches to her face
Or blood for her to clean
And the bruises that he'd given her
Would never again be seen