Work Text:
I bear the cut of her lying tongue
for she carved one of lies into my own.
I bear the scourge of his two faces
mine the price of his deceit.
I possess no longer palms uncalloused
they make no further, foolish errors.
I carve these burdens into my flesh,
burned penance for others’ sins.
And yet even still
though my strings lie severed
a puppet I remain
shuffling through motions
left behind in me
Only in this final act
may I seek atonement
I only wanted to guard, to shield
naïve I was
soft clay in waiting hands
I’m sorry
so sorry
It hurts
it hurts
it hurts
I’m sorry
Spare me burden of drawing breath
that I may do no further wrong
Her voice
his voice
their voices—
rising
rising
rising
they fill my skull
they fill my bones
they fill the dark
and I—
I have no tongue
no sound
no breath
to beg
forgive
forgive me
I’m sorry
so sorry
it hurts
hurts hurts
hurts it hurts
I’m sorry
so sorry
sorry
sorr
sor
so
s