Acerbic
You read my soul, transcribed into letters,
you shake your head, softly,
regret rises like bile after a rave,
you say, It’s good…
I wait, silent, your whole body saying But…
IT laughs,
the acidic strains slip through the bars,
sure as Tell’s arrow, aim for my heart
that stupid, foolish thing,
which craves your acceptance
silence builds,
you fidget, then say, You know what I like
I nod jerkily, you continue,
disquiet topped with a hint of disgust,
You’re good, but your words…
are piercing, violent…I —
I walk away,
you say to my back,
You should be able to take criticism, you know
Pain floods my eyes,
I open my mouth to tell you once again,
about IT, about THEM,
the ones skewering my insides
mockingly repeating your words,
I open my mouth, shut it again
Despair gains the crown,
Why do I even try?
Why do I so want you to know me?
A form of love comes easy, bound by blood,
but what I need to know is —
Do you actually like me?
Oblivious, you continue,
I just wish you were —
I break away
Your voice floats behind me,
Hmm…maybe I shouldn’t have said violent,
I was thinking…acerbic
Indira Reddy 2019
