Wanted

10.
Your fingerprints
are brushstrokes, relentless
down my spine. You
desire to take all of
everything I have
worked so
hard to
preserve. 

9.
I
did not want
to kiss in
the field,
but I don’t think
I could have stopped
you.

8.
The mind becomes
a sinister web.
It is nearly impossible
to track the trajectory
of the madness we have
created.

7.
I can’t
leave you.

6.
You wrap
your hand around
my wrist
and pull
and pull
and lead
pull leadpullpull
and you may
never understand how
to love any other way.

5.
The way my name
leaves your lips
like a bad influence.

4.
You
will not admit what
fear feels like.
You keep an
empty ribcage on
your good days,
you have developed
a keen ability to bury
all and remain
afloat.

3.
It is difficult
to stand beside you
and not think
of intentions.   It
is more
difficult to stand
beside you.

2.
I
can’t
leave.

1.
I never asked
for protection.