he wears her like 
the badge of honorable 
abuse.... 
 
silently listening 
to her rantings,  
picking her up 
 
when she falls. 
layers of anger 
misdirected to him.... 
 
yet he takes the blame 
without complaining,  
and keeps on..... 
 
till too long ignored,  
too long in the silence... 
he walks out the door,  
 
without a word. 
love's not a badge,  
not even a cross... 
 
it's a highway 
that must be walked 
together!
Eric Cockrell
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-badge/