You chained my arms / within your gated heart / grew my hair / to be the rope / that wound around / & bound / my throat; drowned / each & every word / I spoke; my body / spawned my leash / I choked; lay still / broken beneath / your yoke / but no more.

You tugged / tangled / your claws / in my scalp / climbed each time / without looking / down to see / the blood / that flooded the ground / the proof of my love / is silence: my sound / stayed  / trapped / in the tower / where I was / crowned / the virgin / the maiden /  the sacrifice bound / but no more.

You whispered / the fear of wolves / in my ear / told me the world was / hunger / despair / & madness / but ladders of hair / & stories / with bears / only make me / aware / that the things / of my prayers / horses / & choices / & silk dresses to wear / rivers / & scissors / & a prince debonair / live far away / far away / & I’ll never live / there / but no more.

You cornered me / here / in this cornerless room / stripped / shoes from my feet / encased me in stone / said you’d always / be near / then left me / alone / filled my veins / with your fears / to ensure / I’d not roam,

but the truth is, if

I were a bird / I’d have flown / from this room / from your memory / years, years ago; not / caring / just daring / to be / what you’d known / I’d turn into / one day: someone / you cannot hold.

You stained me / inside / your touch darkening / my veins; the weight / of your lies / kept the blood / from my brain / crushed under / your shoe / my fingers grown numb / just some fairytale princess: blind / deaf / dumb.

I was your daughter / your ladder / your sin / now I’m / the one who holds / power / within / he’ll come for me / soon / I’ll leave / on his horse / my head / much lighter / than ever / before; he brings me / a future / a love / and a ladder –

if you’d have been kinder / I might now / be sadder –

I’m leaving / you / leaving you / for far distant shores / out of reach / of your blades / your careless / swords & words / you made this / place / stairless / a trap with no door / but no more.