Sarah Webb, "Vow"

I want to take her arm and make her.
Make her slap his face.
Take her mouth and make her spit.
Have her say No.
No, you cannot. No, I will leave.

I want to take her legs and walk her out the door.

When he beat her
she drove the car she didn't know where.
I want to take her hands and steer,
not back to the house with his apologies,
her relieved and denying tears,
but out onto the night highway.

Have the black branches of the firs
say We are opening a way through us.

Have her keep going on
until her wheels touch sand.
Wade her into water that pulls against her,

let her look at the bright waves.
Let her vow to them,

I will never go back.
This is the end of that life.