cardinal sin

[tubgirl.jpg]

the cardinal sin

the sun burned out behind branches gnarled by arthritis
the slivers of warmth felt like bird-shot against my skin
the frayed edges of your eyes held the raging civil war
showing mercy on your prisoners was the cardinal sin
an owl on your neck with scalpel wings drawing blood
some of us are born with self-destruction as our purpose
we keep sticking our dirty fingers into our open wounds
before laying on the cross with stakes driven into flesh
to save me from myself you wore thistles of sovereignty
all the nights of terror when I burned up with neuroses
you combed the nightmares from my hair with fingernails
before I turned them into monsters

 

[cduggles]

Pretty much I like the whole piece, but favorite lines:

the sun burned out behind branches gnarled by arthritis
the slivers of warmth felt like bird-shot against my skin

all the nights of terror when I burned up with neuroses
you combed the nightmares from my hair with fingernails

 

[tubgirl.jpg]

Thank you @cduggles