How is it that
someone into whose eyes
you've never looked
someone who would never
offer more than crumbs
and most of those illusory
who could leave you
dangling on a thread
for days and weeks on end
hoping you might be graced
but knowing disappointment
was more likely
how is it someone like that
can take your heart
and make it sing,
even as they bit by bit shred it?

How is it that
when you, in the end, protest
it all becomes your fault?

How is it that
even after you think
you've got over it
it all resurfaces
to add yet more hurt?

The next one to break my heart
will at least have to
look me in the eye first.

Cynthia Pauline Jones, 9/4/12