Trethewey takes the bruise on her mother's eye and makes it seem like she sought a way out of the abuse through a simile, " a dark spot as if imprinted/of a telescope on which she had brought her eye too close,/looking for a way out” (2-4). Although Trethewey knows that her mother's bruises are not from a glasses, she uses this language as depth in her poem. After Gwen's violent ex-husband is released from prison (after a year for a very violent attack on Gwen), he resumes his threats and Gwen is placed under police protection (Wilson). Trethewey uses the allusion when talking about the restraining order that her mother had obtained against her stepfather, describing it without directly specifying what it is: "the official document – ​​its seal/and its signature stained — already fading,/the edges are worn” (8-10). ). Trethewey portrays a faded signature and worn edges to illustrate that the document shows wear and tear from being used so frequently. Trethewey also brings this poem together using