My heart curdles, blackened
By cruel whispers. I try to be me, but
I clipped my wings years ago;
No hope of vibrant feathers
Re-emerging from raw and bloodied skin.
But you! My fluttering hope, how I
Wish
I could keep you in a cage of
Tarnished silver in my chest,
Your gossamer wings pinned to my
Struggling heart.

I open my ribs, cold air breathing on
My gasping lungs, feeble heart
And I give you back your rainbow feathers
For without them you pine and crumble.
Wrench open the delicate silver gate
And be free, your healed wings yanking
Ribbons of red from my love.