because that’s the only way to breathe

because language puts pain at ease

at least just for a little while

our story grows stale

the texture of it disconcerting

and the fabrics of the space between us becomes gritty

when it shouldn’t be

i thought we had closure

had imagined a hundred different ways of this ending badly

all convincing enough for me to believe in

i thought i had ripped out unfinished scripts

and drew universes

around the ink blotches that look like black holes

where my pen had stalled, dripped and shivered

had drawn stars on top of tear stains

and unleashed us from the chains

told myself i’m happy that it’s over before it begins

But the cage is still here and I sing on

No watch guards around

You held me captive still in paper mache walls

with your hesitance

and your infinite, dizzying tolerance

and i stand here still, my words come out raw

because that’s the only way to breathe

only way to fall