She was all shook up
After the attack.
It was then as if

Something had come loose,
Rattled around in
Her head so that she

Couldn’t settle down
To the old routine,
Couldn’t rest, couldn’t

Sleep without the light
On all the damned time,
Couldn’t bear her man

To touch or feel or
Get too close to her.
She couldn’t cope with

Things after the rape.
Something had been dear
Stolen, undone, spoiled,

As if some hand had
Reached inside her flesh
And ripped her soft guts

Apart with a blood
Soaked hand, had smeared her
Mind with the crimson

Soak of it all. She
Slept gazing alone
In the bed that seemed

To have fantasy
Hands reaching up at
The sides, that had thin

Fingers poking hard
Into her soiled flesh,
Touching her sex, her

Whole being like some
Falling apart doll
With all the stuffing,

Piece by piece, coming
Away in her hands
And her freaked out head.