my masc is a mask
that protects the little girl inside
with pointed spines
and puts her in a cage
inside his beating heart
“I never meant to be like this,”
he says in quiet tones,
“I only meant to keep her safe
from the harsh realities
of life,
but somehow,
as days went by,
the bars became firmer,
and I lost the key.”
so there she sits,
listening to the thumping
marking off the hours
and waiting
waiting
waiting
to be free
12/2/20 ptkh (Clio)