What Happened To My Heart Poem by Brian Rihlmann

I threw it to
the wounded ones,
the ones with
eyes like chipped ice,
feral behind fences
topped with sharp spikes,

and they picked it up
peering at me
between the slats
with blacked eyes,
runny mascara
and flesh under the nails
from combat with
two legged beasts
more monsters then men.

They held it
in their hands,
sniffed at it,
then opened the gate.

And when it was over,
they threw it back,
each time smaller,
with tooth marks,
layers peeled like an onion.

When I met you,
I offered what was left,
a tiny crippled thing
I placed in your palm,
as I stared at my feet,
unable to meet your gaze.

You took it and smiled,
wrapped it in gauze
and carried it,
held it gently
as I watched warily
from across the room
until I could take no more...

and I snatched it back,
and ran.

How could you do
such a thing?