All I Ask

                                                                       by Victoria Hunter

is for my identity  to be returned
for it to be  tossed out a window
and land  in my warm lap
so he can be driven  away and away
but he acts as if I asked
for a bowl of his blood

This is a man who taught me
words kill women   slowly
they consume their spirits
and they don't even know  it's happening.

I remember I made love  to this man
before my body did  and maybe you have to

I followed him to a nightmare
where dirt sticks to you
no matter how long  you brush it off

Through to the end of it
he said wasn't into me
in the beginning  my beauty
was in a black mask  now it is hostage