Husband

Husband,
presses his tie against his chest,
smoothing a series of invisible wrinkles.
Wife sets out dinner,
roasting the chicken and broiling
the broccoli.
Fetching cans of carrots from
the fridge.
The House is vacuumed.
The Table is set.
The Guests are on their way.
Talking small talk,
speaking small words,
into opposite small minds.
Wife smiles small smiles and sips
her water courteously.
Husband speaks of business and
men things, his facade a
display of serene testosterone.
Wife passes a dish and stops,
small hands shake while cold
water runs off the table and on
Husband's lap.
Apology after apology flow from her
wavering voice while his eyes burn
and his teeth grating grills.
Dinner follows.
Guests go.
Husband beats Wife. Her sweet
tears marked with fear and pain.
Shes sorry she couldn't keep that
smooth smile,
sorry she could only shake at his stare.
Face is broken and bruised,
Children are asleep without
knowing.
Wife prays to God,
"Let me never live in fear again"
She weeps as she's drained,
slumped at her husband's feet.
Husband walks out,
to press his tie for work
the next day.