Skin folds over a rusted band
It has become her; forever
branded by a corpse dream
A prisoner of love
It's inside her now
screaming and throbbing
Like everything else
she claws at it
Discomfort flows

He sleeps
Or pretends to, as he often does
It burns the most when she watches him
She walks the dog mostly at midnight
Leash in right hand, the left is fatigued
Soaking in the boxes, heavy stars above
She remembers a boy
And how he made her feel
It happens almost every time
Imprisoned by a love

At the front door the dog pulls away
She understands
She paces from room to room
Everything has a place
She understands
Slipping into bed
The ache remaining
He sleeps
As he often does
She turns away, closes her eyes
One way to stop the tears

(c)2009 will bates