Push

My ribs curled in, pressing to my heart

Still beating, pierced, leaking

Beating to bleed

Blood became air, choking to breathe

Clawed open my throat after I cut out my tongue

Bleeding to be

Cauterized the wounds with my own coagulating blood

Damned myself to stop the flood

Being burned alive

I set myself on fire to keep you warm, as my own mind laughed in scorn

Drinking down acid, because I cannot say

Alive is awakening

Painstaking, heartbreaking agony

Agony taught me to float when I drown

The world keeps turning whether you smile or frown