DIMINUENDO

I've chewed holes in my bottom lip,

Big bloody holes covered by dark lipstick;

And the shades of purple intermix 

With the ruby hue of helpful ticks. 

 

For the robber, I opened the door 

It's a wonder he didn't steal something more. 

I unlocked the door to let him inside 

And I spoke with mute things in order to hide 

But his voice rang through the walls of my mind 

And soon enough his words were mine:

 

I said that I have got a gun, 

Not for Safety, 

Just for fun. 

 

I said I don't care much, 

For this race or that, 

But surely my government doesn't know that. 

 

But now that I can, 

I'll show them I'm a man. 

I'll show the girls 

Who all know my hand. 

 

And I'll put it into their throats too deep

Show them how life looks without sleep 

And I'll teach them how to love my gun 

I'll teach them exactly how fast they can run

And when they think they've found distance's armor 

I'll show them my bullet reaches a few feet farther 

 

I shut my mouth, ashamed at my words,

Stitched my bottom lip 

To the top 

To make the blood 

And the foreign words stop. 

 

I let the robber do his deed 

But never again did I feel free.