Three Broken Ribs

she unlocks the door

like the enemy 

I’m instantly exonerated 

the pain of blame 

exceeds departure 

I’ve got to stand my ground

and question her,

I didn’t sign up for this,

to forgive is to forget

-              apparently

she scatters forgiveness

-              sparingly 

but the blame 

keeps coming

back on me,

I’m selling myself short,

captured and caught

bought 

and 

paid 

for

under guise of 

good behaviour,

I’m on parole

spherical like

a cannonball 

fired 

into 

the circus freaks 

gut

one rib

two ribs

three ribs bust