sticking and wrapping around my rib cage to choke each breath.
Barren from my eyes, each laugh scoops a hollow
deep within my breast until a vacuum holds me up.
Cobra slinking within bargain slacks
intent on bruised confidences too small to matter,
tiny hands are held tight behind ruler straight spines.
I'll bend and break beneath the weight of your regard.
Like a cat held by a canary, each aerial rotation
quickens my heartbeat, steals a bit of my resolve
meanwhile she, a cruel puppeteer, is content to orchestrate
my collapse on fraying strings.
