I watch hands

moving quickly

over brilliant

white canvas

purist white

stabbed with

violent gashes

of darkest

colour



Fingernails stained

dark like

blood bruises

holding a brush

wielding it like a sword

spreading coloured

acrylic across

a now roughened

surface



What develops

before me

is dark and twisted

and I find your

name in my mouth

how dare you call me

when I asked you not to

I will not visit you

again



Once your name

was the sweetest

of tastes

now it’s bitter

and jagged

it slices my lips

leaving me bleeding

and unsettled and

hurting



When you first left

those were the darkest

and longest of days

I was scared and unsure

of my future

you left me

bruised and grieving

crazy with

fear



I’ve grown past those days

I’m no longer afraid

or willing to listen

to you or your

poisonous words

you are not

my friend

and I am not

yours