It was his way or the highway,
So she chose the highway.
She grabbed her backpack when he wasn’t looking
And thumbed her way down the mountain,
Not caring where she went,
Just glad to get away from him
And the poison he had forced her to take.
Her sweater covered the tracks on her arms
And the scar on her heart.
He had lied so many times!
The bruise on her cheek,
Now yellow with time,
Remained as a stark reminder of his love.
As he jabbed the needle into her vein,
He thrust the knife into her heart—
And when she overdosed one night and struggled to breathe,
She understood he would bury her in the woods
In an unmarked grave if she died.
When she finally reached L.A.
And thanked the driver who had driven her there,
Her hands shook like autumn leaves,
The chills hit her like an Arctic wind,
And her muscles cramped
Like a twisting rubber band.
She sat on a bench in front of the E.R.,
Hugging her shivering body,
Until a kind nurse smiled, held out her hand,
And escorted her into the hospital.
Copyright © 2025 Dawn Pisturino
All Rights Reserved
***
Dawn Pisturino is a retired nurse in Arizona whose international publishing credits include poems, short stories, and articles. Her poetry has appeared in several anthologies, most recently in Hidden in Childhood: A Poetry Anthology, Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women, and the 2023 Arizona Literary Magazine. She is a Mystery Writers of America and Arizona Authors Association member.
14 respuestas a «“Highway” by Dawn Pisturino»
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Powerful poem, Dawn.
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Outstanding writing from Dawn.
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Thank you, Barbara, for publishing my poem on this new platform! I’ve posted this to my blog.
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Massively powerful poem! Thank you for sharing! And congratulations on your published poem:)
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Thank you! That makes me happy.
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Dawn, this was so well written and happily with an ending, that could be her beginning of a new life. Many congratulations for your publication here at LatinosUSA
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Beautiful
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That is a very intense poem. There are so many tragedies like that.
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What a great piece, Dawn. I loved the way you ended it as well, and I am glad she got away. Big hugs and blessings, Joni
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An amazing poem, Dawn.
I wish more women in her position could find the strength she found.
Thank you, Meelosmom, for sharing this!
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