Castigation

Staring at lines from days ago, I hesitate. My stomach tightens.
“Don’t.”, the beast urges.
“It’s too much. Again. Again, you go too far!”
I hear it loud and clear.
“You are too much!”

I am too much,
But — too much for what? Too much for who?

“Too much!”, it rails,
Wrapping meaty arms with filthy claws around me tenderly.
It’s squeezing just tightly enough to pin my hands,
growling just loud enough to muffle my voice.

It’s trying to save me from myself,
but I’m not so convinced of the danger today as, for the first time,
I see my past reflected in the polished black orbs
embedded where its eyes would be (if it had any to see ahead of itself with)
and I wonder if I’m starting to see what it never could.

.

May 30 – June 2, 2025