Immersion of a Rape Victim

I jerk back the shower
curtain
as I force the knob to
feed full blast.
Piping hot water pours
into the porcelain tub
as I remove the tattered
shreds from my torn
skin.
I slip into the water…
to scald the remains from
my weakened flesh.
You violated my body
with your sickening
stench.
.
I drain the tub, refill it,
slip into it once again…
to flush the raging
visions from my head.
You raped my sanity with
your vicious vulgarity.
.
I drain the tub, refill it,
slip into it once again…
to cleanse the blood
dripping from my spirit.
You pierced my heart
with your blade.
.
I drain the tub, refill it,
slip into it once again…
to defy the repitition of
the hellish torture.
You demanded I yield to
the blows of your
battering ram.
.
I drain the tub, refill it,
slip into it once again…
to soak droplets of
venom falling from my
eyes.
You shot your poison
within me.
.
I drain the tub, refill it,
slip into it once again…
to avenge the agony of
life and limb.
You defiled every cell of
my being with your
demonic desire.
.
I drain the tub, refill it,
slip into it once again…
to drench the darkness
into light.
You stole my very soul.
.
Seven baths have not
rid me of you…
seven days, seven
months, nor seven
years shall rid me of
you.
Seven decades might rid
me of you…
by then I may have died.
- Ruth Cox