Ribcage

We’re nothing but bones
Heaps and piles of skin and flesh
Walking around trying to pass ourselves off as human
Take off the mask
We’re imposters
Walking disasters
Ticking time bombs
Beating countdown
Muted sound
Inside our chest
The only thing that matters
Thud. Thump. Thud. Thump.
It speaks, telling stories and lies after lies of life
The up’s
The down’s
The beginnings and the end
It’s a precious narrator
The only real thing that matters
Circulating and operating the most fragile of things
Us…

It’s a conscious reminder
With every skipped beat
With every off rhythm
With every loss of breath
It reminds you
To just breathe
Listen to what it’s telling you
A warning
A reassurance
It wasn’t your fault
See, why he chose to sleep forever
One pill
Over the edge
Screaming
Pounding
Why didn’t you make the call?
Why did you let him fall?
Breathe your life into him with one last kiss
One chance
Now or never
Gut wrenching guilt
Always what if’s
Felt and passed on through aeons
Last words
Last rites
I love you
Goodbye

Wear your ribcage on the outside
You don’t need protection from anything within
All pain
From empty words
And empty actions
I love you’s and I’m sorry’s
Worming your way in
You’re a parasite
And I’m your host
Wrapping me around your finger
Squeezing every inch of me
You’re a manipulator
Draining every ounce of adoration and affection
You’re a vampire

Now I’m an addict
You’re my opium
I’m reliant
I’m co-dependent
Are you happy?
See what you’ve done?
I don’t want to care
I don’t want to love
I don’t want to feel anything anymore
I want it to stop
You’ve taken down my defenses
I have nothing left
I don’t want to feel guilty for what you’ve done
It was your choice
I had no say
Take an x-ray
See what you have broken
More than just mere bones
Things that never will be mended

Wear your ribcage on the outside
Protect yourself
The only threat comes from outside the confinements of the mind
The harsh cold winter of reality
Dying of exposure
It’s never summer
The only danger is from others
Their dirty glances
Their reserved judgments
Eyes piercing like they know
The truth of your soul

Wear your ribcage on the outside
Protect yourself
Protect yourself from them and their attacks
They say they love you but it’s just a clever ploy
Protect yourself
Before they get inside you
Don’t let them in
Protect yourself
Protect your heart
Before he breaks in
Wear your ribcage on the outside.