wonderful dexterity is required
to  be clasped tight
flush against wooden walls having knives
thrown at you.

(most people call that a relationship.)

2.

the board i stand against is
a miraculous work of pageantry,
showing only the abuser’s side of the story while
the rest is hidden away amongst
a work of cabinets and springs
pushing landed knives away from limbs.

(most people just call that stockholm syndrome)

3.

this trick, when well executed,
leaves you with knives lodged just below
the crotch
leaves you close to death
but not with it.
it leaves you questioning:
will he do it again? (he does.)

(most people call that abuse)