Iron bands containing my heart
Forged over bone
Over a rib cage that was too weak to offer protection

Safety feels like cold metal and a straight spine

Safety feels like no smiles offered that aren’t easily taken back

Safety feels like a island that you adventure on alone

You can let visitors hike those mountains
But it closes at dusk

Why is it that I am letting you build a fire pit there one word at a time

Why when you haven’t asked for it has the iron started to grow soft

Why can I already feel that beating fluttering traitor crashing around
Waiting to be released

Bones cracked open like a cadaver

Insurmountable risk  hovering like a miasma over the wound

You’re not to blame for this quickening

But I’ll be ****** if I don’t try and tame these fluorescent butterflies that think they have a reason for strobing