Nice Guy

Nice Guy poem by Iris Carden

He was a Nice Guy
so the bruises when they were showed,
were tiny, just fingerprints.
A Nice Guy would never hit a woman,
so he just yelled at unexpected times
and grabbed her very hard instead.

He was a Nice Guy
so when she complained 
he would buy her presents.  
He gave her flowers
or things he wanted for himself
but gave to her, 
so she had to be grateful
(if she knew what was good for her).

He was a Nice Guy
so when she cowered in fear
and did everything she could to avoid him,
he absolutely knew she was having an affair
because there was no other possible reason
any woman could resist 
a Nice Guy like him.

He was a Nice Guy
who would lock her possessions
away in the shed.
When she said she wanted things back
he would tell her she could go and get them,
but he would never, ever, 
tell her where he hid the key.

He was a Nice Guy
and he made sure everyone around her
saw what a Nice Guy he was,
and how much he did for her.
So when she looked for help or support,
people told her how lucky she was
to have such a Nice Guy as him.

He was a Nice Guy
and Nice Guys deserve a little something
for being so very, very Nice.
So he spent all her money,
ran up bills she couldn't pay,
and explained to her how selfish she was
if she wanted anything at all for herself.

He was a Nice Guy
and he spoke on her behalf
saying what she thought and 
what she wanted
since he was so Nice he knew what 
she ought to think and feel and believe
and she shouldn't have to
do that for herself.

He was a Nice Guy
and she lived in fear
but when she saw her children afraid
she finally found her strength.
She lost everything except them
when she started over again.
She swore to herself,
she'd never fall
for such a Nice Guy again.

He was a Nice Guy
and when she finally left
everyone rallied around 
to support him.
Because she was so very cruel
to abandon 
such a Nice Guy as him.

---

Information

In Australia, if you are dealing with domestic violence issues, you help is available at 1800RESPECT.

In Australia, on average, one woman a week is murdered by a current or former domestic partner. Source https://www.ourwatch.org.au/quick-facts/

If you want to know about the women who don’t manage to escape violent men, Counting Dead Women tells the stories of women who die by violence.

---

While you’re here…

Find my Books:  Direct from the publisher
                               From Amazon
                               Or from your favourite online bookshop

Follow Me: Twitter / Facebook / Instagram

Digital Tip Jar: PayPal Me

Everything on this site is the product of human, not artificial, intelligence.