and what do you mean
when you say to me
you’re a good girl
*
has that ever been a good thing
*
you say something
and everyone goes deaf
but I know what you mean
*
replaced ugliness with prettiness
with prettiness
one word with another
and another
and misguided my language
my comprehension
the truth
holy ground
rotten fruit
*
I don’t want to hear
what comes out of your mouth
it’s numb
it’s not alive
it’s a waste of time
*
I worked for one devil after another
and barely got by
barely made it out alive
and he counts his coins
his stiff fingers
effortless
money he made off other people’s hard labour
off my body and bones and muscles and forced smile
you want me on my knees for offering me a hot meal
on my knees for one basic right
two basic rights
three basic rights
break my back and still worry
sucking the life force out of me
you want gratitude
gratitude for keeping me under your bootheel
be loyal, be grateful, it could be so much worse
so that’s how you sleep at night
Croque-Melpomene 