I could have killed the casual monsters that touched

those delicate areas of a three-year-old body that

almost lost itself in a foot

of balmy bath water

And it became my fault that you lashed out exploded

into frenzy and lost control of the anger that raged

unchecked

just beneath the surface

They called you dangerous as a child and ran you

ragged through tests subjected you to the mental

horrors of being what you are not even knowing

it was always me all along this ticking time bomb

just beneath your skin

Cradled now in what I offer this nest of my arms I

wonder if this smoke is merely the burning of my

skin the whisper of your memories or that horrid

fuse burning lower

always lower