You opened your mouth
and the vitriol spewed forth
Poison puddles sizzling
on the polished floor at my feet

You told me you’d never
do it again, that
you adored me
I’m pretty but
would be gorgeous
if I dyed my hair maybe

You told me that
you got held up
at work again
and that I worried too much

“I’m at work”
“Everything’s fine”
“I’ll make it up to you”
“Of course, honey”
“I love you”

Each lie
a drop of lemon juice
in the shallow paper cuts
from your tongue

and the comfort
of your smile
became a knife slice