It begins in tears and blood

Clenched teeth, wails, and tearing flood

And you thought it wouldn’t hurt?

A slap, a cry, viscous snot

Pinch, pull, poke, and stabbing shot

And you thought it wouldn’t hurt?

Gnawing hunger and no words

Confusion, blurring, thought like birds

And you thought it wouldn’t hurt?

Corners to foreheads…often

Bumps and bumbles, though fat softened

And you thought it wouldn’t hurt?

Monkey bars and playground slide

Arms don’t bend there, ambulance ride

And you thought it wouldn’t hurt?

Snickers, glance, tongue of cut glass

Sticks and stones and words have mass

And you thought it wouldn’t hurt?

The turtledove rattles your chest

The confession, rejection, a pathetic mess

And you thought it wouldn’t hurt?

A phone call, and a bad one

Hearts thumping, lines, now one’s done

And you thought it wouldn’t hurt?

A pink slip, awkward goodbyes

Still leave every morning, partially maybe tries

And you thought it wouldn’t hurt?

Slammed doors, incomprehensible

Yelling, cajoling, blaming, hiding, responsible

And you thought it wouldn’t hurt?

Papers served, mediation

Courtrooms, drama, without probation

And you thought it wouldn’t hurt?

A fiery burn hits your liver

Arrow from the bottom shelf’s quiver

And you thought it wouldn’t hurt?

Styrofoam coffee, acid burns

Cigarette, blank stare, stomach turns

And you thought it wouldn’t hurt?

Days off, it doesn’t matter

Wandering streets, hearing laughter

And you thought it wouldn’t hurt?

An old oak door, stain-ed glass

Penitents kneel, children pass

And you thought it wouldn’t hurt.

Bloody statue, arms outstretched

Eyes to heaven, memory fetched

Streaming side and thorn-ed brow

Lash marks curling, wonder how

(Startle, stare) That must have felt

Purpose flood (the blood!) knee knelt

And you thought it wouldn’t hurt!