Penelope

Penelope played pretend,

for she was unable to defend

his terrible, no-good deeds,

incessant as stubborn weeds.

How cruel was his contempt,

so flagrant and unkempt,

he’d hurl his rage right at her

as if she did not matter.

Endless excuses, she granted 

this man who forever projected

his pain as being her fault

and deserved his verbal assault.

Until, at long last, she found

the courage to stand her ground

and escaped out into the night

when the moon was big and bright.