Oppression

of heat, thick like fog but hotter

sticking to the inside of wailing lungs 

You kissed

but not to give, a

selfish kiss of taking

breath

like the stealing of

her first 

Apathy

in cold hands that touch

too much

too little, scraping razor-

smooth surfaces 

You cut a little

deeper in every

righteous scream, until

she was a huddled mass

of trembling blood

Hate

is hate. No symbol suits

raw enough

at least

better than

swallowing a rock 

Did you feed

it to her knowing, or

ignorant?  She didn’t

crush her teeth, but

that rock settled in

her stomach and

poisoned her slowly

from the inside

Did you know

she loved you? She

could have mothered you

and you smothered

the rain dance before

it began