tongue kept hush in this dark box

my knees cramp and lock, mid-turn

fear kept chest deep, beating shame

play the twisted games, wrists burned

 

from ropes woven long ago

I know you know, know you do

knife scrapes the blades in my back

festering and black, it grew

 

a body wound, controlled bleed

regret eating, creeping rust

why didn’t I fight the grip

let it kill me in one crush