I showed her the poem that damns me,

that I cannot and dare not

ever publish

because by doing so, I consign you to death.

 

Nothing as brutal of actually placing your head upon the block

and watching the sliver of finest steel slice

through what remains of your ego-driven soul,

nor fastening the knot close to your throat

and watch you dangle forever,

your toes sliding across the floor

in quick rapid movements,

refusing sleep, refusing to ever keep

still…