oh pretty bird

The cologne dripping off the curves of your nose

reminds me of a young viper, unable to sweat.

Unable to lust for simplicity and abnormalities.

At least in your eyes.

At least in your eyes I was foreign enough to make a difference.

Even when vision was dulled by watery grief.

I still could see.

Even when the taste in my mouth

was not an exotic salt I retrieved from the ocean,

it was my own.

I still could taste.

At least in your eyes I was safe.

Part of me understood that you would disappear,

that you would pack your emotional baggage

and leave me destitute.

desert me, because that's what they all do.

A momentary lapse of happiness-

ruined who I am now.

But the ruins of me, expand my palace.

I experienced happiness

so much, that now, in my moments of despair,

I don't want to feel a thing.

Yet I continue to feel.

I'm sure when a western wind blows

blows through your planned out skin,

my bastard eyes will appear.

appear and pierce the part of you

that knew, there was so much more to gold

than just its temptress color.

but throw that away now.

Because the package she comes in

is rich with perks.

I was hardly ready to be kept in a box

and tied tight with a pretty bow.

I have legs that extend to the farthest places

and I demand they be stretched.

You wait now,

with the security of food,

and shelter

in your beautiful cage.

Sing when they ask, you

"pretty bird."

And when they trim your wings,

it will be too late to fly.

But if the sun gets too hot,

I can promise you one thing

I will cast my shadow

and keep you cooled

while you try and chew through the bars

that keep you from living,

Living

like me.