breaking

she treats me like a pet monkey
gives enough of her palm to devour the Mazuri 
& the back of her hand when I won’t be obedient

there is nothing like alone 
crumbled flakes of miserable aches 
the grinding of teeth into rumble
double dutch with livewires

hurting me is a carnival game
my feelings are mine to protect 
but she knows how to play me like a cello
opening my heart like a shoe box 
taking everything and with it my sanity

I give up
won’t die in her wishes any longer
won’t fix my day, wallet, or longing to suit her whims
this timex has been unwound and I won’t keep time
for someone so intent on leaving me to rust