you need this more than me

Flagpole, wrestled into Martian dirt

Waves our closed-door country, built from clay-mounds of Hurt

Your hand at the door, before

gentle chorus, we weep-

As is our custom, cousin,

I lay my sword at your feet.

Grazing each other’s wounds and

licking them clean

Picking ticks from your hair

Scraping skin off my teeth.

Homing pigeon, tremble in my palm

I’ll pry open your ribs to breathe.

Then I’m familial, pliable, filial-

But you cared, so you can keep.

And it’s strange, passing strange

Both strangers in a strange country-

Substitute the milk for eggs

Finding what you need in me

But beyond are the rogues, callous-handed thieves

Lingering gazes and eyes that don’t see

And from my tear-stained turret

A vision of worse places to be

When you stole away to foreign shores

flattery, sweet-faced novelty

Gluttoned on attention and laughter

You spilled your guts about me

Now you darken my door with guilty glance- taking your chance

You bastard, you emigree

Then, with the business end of the knife, you say-

‘You need this more than me’.

halfbakedpoemz