A Delicately Dangerous Dance

I swear I’ve been here before, 
but this place feels new.
It doesn’t matter anymore,

but do I know you? 

Quick quick, slow.

It’s not the rhythm that I need, 

but it’s the one that I know,

it’s both how I love, and how I feed.

Tik tik, tock.

Goes the sound of my heart,

like a ticking bleeding clock,

it’s both how I stop, and how I start.

We seem to belong together,

like two sides of a coin, 

destined to spin forever, 

until both sides join. 

I’m heads and your tails,

let’s twirl, spin, dance, and dip,

while we even out the scales

of this fated flip. 

I swear I’ve been here before, 

but this place feels new, 

spinning on this familiar floor,

like a dance with deja vu. 

I know those eyes staring back at me,

and like a curse or broken spell,

turn to ash and debris,

a sudden waltz in hell. 

Quick quick, slow…

It’s not the rhythm that I want, 

but it’s the one that I know,

it’s both how I love, and how I taunt.

Tik tik, tock…

and my heart burrows and drops,

deep within my chest, like a serrated rock.

It’s both how it starts, and how it stops. 

I’m tails and your heads. 

Not that it matters anymore because

as soon as the spinning ends,

I’ll know I was here before, I always was. 

You Say

You say you like my curly hair

and the way that it stands out,

but the commitment and care

is something you could do without. 

You say you like my voice

but don’t like it when I speak,

and if it were your choice

would muzzle my mystique.

You say you like me at times,

when I’m open to your critiques,

which cluster in my eyes,

and sizzle down my cheeks. 

You admired my chaotic curls

and the way that they hung,

while resenting the twirls

of my disposition and tongue. 

Every strand has a story,

whether grayed out or not,

and is a swirling history

of all my battles fought.

Battles you’d rather not hear,

Battles you’d rather not see,

despite being the leader

and turning a blind decree. 

You say you like me

but I don’t think that you do.

Because everything I am,

seems to repulse you. 

You say you like my curly hair

as you place me on your shelf,

my commitment and care

has always been with myself. 

Collateral Damage

I know it’s a lot to ask, 
for you to envelop me,
to want to brave the task

of swallowing the sea. 

It’s all or nothing, fast or go.

Explore my shallows,

but watch my undertow.

The crashing waves silence the cries,

are you in a watery grave,

or did you make it out alive? 

I promise to be gentle

or as much as I can be,

all casualties are accidental 

this is my only guarantee.