Another Woman

Today another woman died
and not on a foreign field
and not with a rifle strapped to her back,
and not with a large defense of tanks
rumbling and rolling behind her.

She died without CNN covering her war.
She died without talk of intelligent bombs
and strategic targets
The target was simply her face, her back 
her pregnant belly.

The target was her precious flesh 
that was once composed like music
in her mother’s body and sung 
in the anthem of birth.

The target was this life 
that had lived its own dear wildness,
had been loved and not loved,
had danced and not danced.

A life like yours or mine 
that had stumbled up 
from a beginning
and had learned to walk 
and had learned to read.
and had learned to sing.

Another woman died today.
not far from where you live;
Just there, next door where the tall light
falls across the pavement.

Just there, a few steps away
where you’ve often heard shouting,
Another woman died today.

She was the same girl
her mother used to kiss;
the same child you dreamed 
beside in school.
The same baby her parents 
walked in the night with 
and listened and listened and listened
For her cries even while they slept.

And someone has confused his rage 
with this woman’s only life.

-Carol Geneya Kaplan

http://www.vadv.org/Resources/another.html

SAFETY ALERT: If you are in danger, please call 911, your local hotline, or (in the U.S.) the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or
TTY 1-800-787-3224.

What is Domestic Violence?

As definied by the Bexar County Family Justice Center:

Domestic Violence can be defined as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner or family member.  Abuse includes physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats. This includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure or wound someone.  Domestic violence can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender.  Domestic violence can happen between couples who are married, live together or date.  Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and all education levels. The definition of domestic violence is very broad. 

In Texas, courts use the word Family Violence when addressing issues associated with domestic violence. The legal definition of family violence is defined in the family code as " an act by a member of a family or household against another member of the family or household that is intended to result in physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault or that is a threat that reasonably places the member in fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault, but does not include defensive measures to protect oneself."  When a person commits an illegal act of domestic violence, law enforcement can become involved. 

Presidential Proclamation - National Domestic Violence Awareness Month