Avoiding Her Whip

Her selfishness has resonances –
[do not let ’em wound any more
in jumped recalls] – let me see all
her schemes obliterated – move –
move on – let me fall in love & not
fear [again] a lover’s beat of word
games – let me not flinch & whirl –
my affray of her tongue-whipping
stays [a scar] she’ll squeeze at my
wound to peel me away/ I am her
bank that wouldn’t expend a vast
settlement [Mediator] please take
into account what a judge will pay
so that Mike can live securely with
his illness – & let me sleep when it
demands – when sleep calls – this
is not a needless retreat/ Now I’ll
cover my ears in her presence/ A
whip will unwind if bodies are not
offered – my headphones stay her
tongue’s turn to list her injustices
& distance is [now] such pleasure