LIFE AS WE KNOW IT

I suspect that I may never sleep again.

The howls of suffering
the screams for relief
throughout the night
leave me little hope for the future.

I beg my wife to quiet down,
fearing it will only anger him
but she glares
and whimpers,
“when will he STOP?”

I do not know.
I cannot imagine
a life without his constant abuse
anymore.
Everything is about his needs
and desires
and there is little we can do
but attempt
to appease him.

It fails.
Most of the time,
there is nothing we can do
to please him
and we are left
alone, together,
quietly begging for death,
or a visit from the nanny.