Bluebeard

Rashida is radiant
in the morning sun.
Her voice is steady.
He threw me
all the way
across the room.

Michelle laughs,
brittle as brown grass.
He hated women,
how did I miss that?

Fresh snow falls.
A crisp new message arrives
from Alice.
After he tried
to rape me
he told so many lies.

The sunset is pink and purple
fading to blue-black.
Rosie wears long sleeves
and thick makeup.
She never says anything
while Kevin is in town.

Sarah’s call
comes clear and bright
through the frosty night sky.
It’s John,
he’s kicking off again.
There’s no-one else home.

Angie smiles.
I love him.
She steps
into the mouth of a shadow
and vanishes.