running from the soft, the scared, the lonely.

these inhibitions turned into these lines so these
hard men and women could—so

you might understand.

sweetness i feel soft and scared, and
nothing but trouble to you.

i crane my neck, feel the soft spot, the scale!—
pulled back from my dragon’s side,

and jump! a lone arrow from the heart of
you brings my demise.

then, in danger of shedding all my pride, and
crushed, because he’s not enough

when you say you love my mind,
i hide, openly, in between these lines.

running running from the soft, the scared, the lonely.