You can break me
You know exactly how to do it
know exactly the tender places
the weak ones
the places of me
that aren't all shored up
You know how far to push
and where
You know how hard to hit
to draw blood and tears
You can take this strong body
and tear it apart
with words and blows and meanings
throwing the pieces
so far apart
I’ll never be whole again
You can break me
you know all the ways
to make me fall
when I’m vulnerable
soft and scared
because you’ve seen me these ways
And because of this
I know that I love you
because you can break me
utterly destroy me
But you won’t
no, you hand me a hammer
and some nails, instead
and say, “Let’s build”
