all that pain
and belittlement
you served me
day and night
when no one
was looking
made the little
man within you
feel much, much,
much bigger
but now you
stand before me
weeping
with no teeth
and the big man
within me
has forgiven you.

and if they love you, they better make it real clear
cause I’ve been blind in love so many times, that
any sight of it now, my eyes quickly press clear

                               love is something I hardly see!

Gently, my love
When you stay up late combing your mind for pieces of rot
Gently
When you stare into ***** mirrors and scrub yourself raw
Gently
In a brash sea with your periscope on danger
Gently
Riding the crowd in the nose bleeds of opinion
Gently, my love,
Lean into the frisson
Gently with grace
Gently,
My love.
Gently with grace

Your love did not have its freedom
Was constrained in your chest
treated as a soldier,
released only to battle
And so your love made
the love you received  
a casualty of war

your love did not have truth
And was strangled in your throat
Made extortioner
Withheld to barter for power
And so your love made
the love you received
the currency for corrupt affections

From afar and with less knowledge you look like a kind flower
Your purple color stark against the green
But your spines are long and painful
A lasting pain that aches after you have struck
Perhaps a defense for your vulnerable heart
But a defense I have no desire to break
And instead wish you were eaten by a cow

There is comfort in your transparency
A willingness to be flexible
Some find your touch uncanny
Yet even your teeth are gentle
While a cat may have nine lives
You only get one season
To inspire appreciation of the present
And I will always remember you for it