Ode to My Body

Oh my body,

How you speak

Telling me of each ailment

That I need to treat

You speak loudly

With your chest proud

Making sure I always

Stand apart from the crowd

Sometimes you're soft

With a voice only I can hear,

A somber reminder

that there is much to fear

Yes, how strong-willed you are,

in your game of games,

keeping me on my toes,

in lieu of my cane

Any fence I build

to keep you out,

only proves you the wiser

without a doubt

So I build stilts

to keep the house steady,

but I had no idea

you had guns at the ready

Both kneecaps shot

with the blink of an eye,

I fall to the floor

and you let out a deep sigh

I see the smoke

arise from the barrel,

and beyond that I see only

eyes, feral

Body, your eyes glow red,

your teeth, sharp as knives,

and a nerve so profound

I assumed your intent was likewise

I was ready Body, to finally succumb,

to what this was all leading to -

finally being numb

I grabbed the barrel

and placed it on my head,

my eyes slammed shut

"do it!" I said,

I felt my head spin

but not how I thought,

I was sick to my stomach

is this what I'd wrought?

I felt your hot breath, Body

as you laughed in my face,

My heart pounded in my chest,

like a heavy, heavy bass

You cast the gun aside,

as if it weighed nothing at all,

and picked me up by my hair

as I laid limp as a ragdoll

You drug me to the bed

threw me under the covers,

an ice pack for each knee,

Who is this fucker?

You returned with hot tea,

pain killers, and friends

I couldn't figure it out, Body,

were you making amends?

My favorite show was on,

Castlevania Season 3,

Now, Body, I don't get it,

are you toying with me?

A low chuckle escapes you,

as you put your feet up,

"You don't get it, do you,

you poor little pup.

"You didn't heed my warnings,

whether loud or soft,

and your band-aids weren't working,

though you could see clear enough.

"It was time to stop, and since you wouldn't listen,

it was time to make that blood of yours glisten.

"Now, now don't be naive,

I promise I have no more tricks up my sleeve.

"So, watch your show, take your pills,

just no more taking those cheap thrills.

"Cause if you'll do, I'll certainly know

and we wouldn't want a repeat of this freakshow."

You push yourself up, and without another word,

you left me alone, not a footfall heard.

So I watched my show, drank my tea,

and prayed every night, that someday,

you'd return to me.