bleached

bones
whittled and white
brittled
litter my floor
cave brushed
encrusted
damp dank den
torches flicker splutter
spit grease
fatty flames
thick choking fumes
blacken
my name
my door
is sealed
guarded by force
by growls
scowls
fierce signs
trespassers will be prosecuted
persecuted
judged
found wanting
wanting
waiting
i am
stepping on bones
splinters in my heel
in my face
scratches on my wrist
pounding fist
on floor
watching a closed door
a dead line
an empty box
hoping
someone reads the sign the secret
message underridden
hidden in the punch
under the knife
under my skin
i want to let you in
but cannot ask
cannot dare
and so i stare
you down
chase you
out
abuse you into silence
force you to stop trying
make you fail my test
change the rules of a game you never knew we were playing
so you lose
and i lose you