How the Fault Finds You

You were not made to 

endure : obdurate men 

buckled fingers 

the steel ribs of human cages

dried blood on your thigh 

the wait of danger packed into

the swell of a dashboard 

dull punch of an animal 

being caught by the wheel 

eyes spent with impact 

your knuckles raw from

crawling : clawing

your children watching

those calling out for you 

not climbing out from under

the twisted frame of blame

bone shaking its fist 

doors locked from the inside

the way you never were loved

the way you were meant to :