Feed her the scraps
of your being.
She will eat it up
without thinking twice.
But she will still be
hungry.

Feed her the lies
or whatever is convenient
She doesn't mind to pick out
the gristle
because every piece of it
is attached to a morsel
of sweet
delight.

Feed her the silence of
unspoken discontent
the empty eyes
the empty bed
the thrills that serve as
distraction
because you can't bear to hear
the voice
that rings inside
your skull.

Like a dog, she
waits
with pleading eyes
and an endless appetite
for you.

But even the most
unfortunate mutt
deserves more than
a full belly,
but also
a mind
at ease.