Lizzy Burnam 🐞

If I had a daughter
I would teach her 
that they only burn the witch 
and not the preacher 
(though they’ll wait 
until he’s penetrated deeper
to return her beat-up body 
to the reaper) 
and all of earth and heaven 
is beneath her
and love will leave you jerking 
like a seizure
and any help they offer 
leaves you weaker 
(the poison’s always mixed 
with something sweeter)
and it’s the duty of a girl 
to do what pleases her 
even when the devil
comes to eat her 
so break into the shadows 
like a fever
and be the most revolting 
little creature 
and plague upon the world 
when you’re beleaguered 
(cuz heroes only come 
to rescue sleepers 
and god forbid you wake 
a walking dreamer)