Set Fire

Unspoken words swell on my tongue, nearly

swallowing it whole

as I search through the wilderness

of his ice blue stare, trying

hard not to let go

and find myself holding on too tight

to my own beating heart.

There I bleed for a while,

but he still keeps me here to sooth the blistering.

He wants to let go now

that the smoke has lifted, but I want

to set fire.