Butchers

Easy scars that fade
Faster than I can take the time to
Memorize their lines,
Or remember how the blood once spilled from them.

 But can you ever forget the face of your butcher?
Can you erase the hungry look in his eyes?
Murderous, craving, preying
Your mirror reflecting an easy meal.

Your feet still feel the fast grass beneath
As you pound the ground hard
Razors cutting on the way to escape
Praying above not to miss a step or be caught.

Laborious breathing,
You're still catching your breath
Accelerated beatings in your chest
Your ears still perked to every sound.

Sweat still spills from my brows
Against this wall where you gave up
The knife plunged on the other side
Where it came so close to ending me
Only to prove that I can survive.

I can let my scars fade into this thick skin
But I wont let my heart forget
Forget the way you kissed to bite me
To put your arm around me to choke me
To love me to betray me

I wont forget that you can want me
Just to watch me die slowly
To swallow me up wholly
And bury me underground.

But you won't silence me
Anymore.

-Noemi Garcia Rigsby