i'm waiting, impatiently,
for the house of cards
you built
to shatter at your feet

and wipe that smug smile off your face

the fall of a lazy empire
never sounded so desirable

your inappropriate actions were swept
under the rug of the public

especially this afternoon,
when you brought along
your newest lover to a board meeting

your victory was simply accidental, darling.

but, when your corruption is exposed,
it'll be made sure that your fall is a cushioned one

and you'll see me, in your rearview mirror,
laughing while your universe comes crashing down

the man behind the curtain
that decided my worth

took his turns deciding whether or not
he felt like pretending to care about me

he oftentimes played the role of god-
and everyone owed him a favour

he wanted the rush
he inhaled from parkour on the week's end

and the kind of romance
he devoured in science fiction novels

i was too afraid to get off of my knees
and to not address him like royalty

but i let him file me down
into a perfect wife

knees on the ground,
my head stayed bowed

obedient like a puppy
scared out of it's wits

eventually i unlocked the door at the top of the cell

just to find him sitting there,
lit cigar (elegant this time)
and a novel
while he watched my mind absorb the smoke

do you still feel young?
when you look into a mirror
and read the bent image

a wrinkle here,
a freckle there.

your features aren't looking the same

but that's fine

i too will grow old

old age, like death and heartbreak
comes to everyone
fueled by the smell of adolescence

take my fragile hand in yours,
you're not as lonely as you think

breathe in the brisk air
inhale as the nostalgia
courses through your veins

i learned from the best,
not to take nostalgia without a glass of water