I keep striving to be
something more than you see
but there’s no breaking free
from what stares back at me

in that silent reflection
it is all just projection
defensive deflection
from dreams of perfection

you love her and hate her
you just can’t escape her
she tears at the seams
always swallowing screams

that keep twisting inside
and there’s nowhere to hide
from the pain she inflicts
on herself she just rips

into skin, into pieces

to run or to fight
nothing makes it alright
so she keeps up the smile
and she buries that vile

recollection of shame
of what seemed like a game
there’s so much left unsaid
and it churns in her head

with a vengeance that seethes
and there’s nothing relieves
she can’t soothe the intent
there’s no safe way to vent

pull that energy back
from the shattering crack
of that rage smashing bone
forcing him to atone

for his hideous crime
for that girl lost in time.

Image from Creative Commons, courtesy of Wendelin Jacober