i try to digest them, make
something of them.

empty shells;
someone else would
spit them out.

refined sugar;
my blood glucose level
spikes and plunges- too
high and suddenly
too low.

synthetic colouring;
i wipe the stains
off my fingers, onto
your hem

and leave.

(i)
It's a pretty game I play, to see
if you would recognise
the watchful predator
lurking behind arrogant eyes.


(ii)
I hold your unflinching gaze,
measuring:

Steely resolve,
a subtle charm
that you will need
when it comes to me.


(iii)
I will make your strength
bend
to my will - somehow
someday. You

wouldn't even know
what'd hit you.
The prey
never do.


(iv)
I will enjoy your determined
attempts to hold your own,
like an Olympic swimmer
caught unaware in the deep.
I might even let you win.


(v)
Eventually.

her words
scroll across the screen

a
continuous stream of
letters joined and
separated
by spaces and other letters
with no

punctuation
;

there are enough holes in her heart

she bites her lip