By: Linda M Crate

what i am is what i am
so get over it
i’ll give my words to the people
that remember them,
and to those who are a part of my
life when things are good and when they
are bad;
stop trying so hard
i already gave you a thousand chances,
and you let me down every time
so i’m done—
don’t try to tell me, don’t try to sell me
you are not a prayer
but a curse
you’ve lingered in my heart too long;
i won’t cut myself on your jagged teeth any
longer—
tried so hard to make this work,
but we fit so clumsily
even souls bonded to armor looked graceful;
and you make a homunculus
look like a kitten—
don’t forget i have talons
i know how to use them and i would prefer to remain
peaceable, but if i must go to war
then i will destroy you
in the tempest of my fury and passion.