A thousand and one ways I've said,
a thousand and none you comprehend.

How can I say,
such that you'd see?

How can I say,
such that you'll understand,
that I'm not made for this,
not made of love and kindness,
not made for love,
not made for this at all.

I ache where it hurts most,
a dark cloud of storm,
a black heart pawned,
no hope to see through wrong.

They said hearts weren't made for sleeves,
and I trusted none of it.

I bared and I cared,
then I saw,
the world that tromped,
mercy far from reach,
pain stitching into skin,
darkness looming forth.

I took it all in,
a canvass of chance,
forfeited through time.

Let me live,
let me free.
no more pain,
no more pain,
tears re-tracked,
mirth re-planned,
let me live,
let me free.