Level of Toxicity

You waved your red flag, but I looked away.

More often than not, your words cut like razor blades.

Black & blues you laid upon me, scattered across my arms and legs,

It could be worse, I’d always say.

Yesterday is over and you’re not mad today!

All the marks you left, will fade.

Those words too, will dissipate.

It won’t always be like this, it’s just a phase.

It wasn’t always like that, it grew worse each day.

I had not a clue that I had a very dark fate.

I kept my blinders on, fear kept me in a fragile state.

Looking back, I needed a canary in a cage.

You can’t deny the level of

toxicity—

when the bird lays there, dead & defrayed.

After years of abuse, I too was dead in many ways.