Dead Air Riot

This dead air turns riot
in my chest
I am done playing quiet
while you pound your pain
against my rest

I speak
you scroll
that is the whole damn story
in four short words

I throw you my core
you throw me bored

You call when you need a therapist
hang up when I need a hand
every call that starts with
“you will not believe what they did”
ends with you
and you
and you again

I look at the ceiling
phone hot
ear red
heartbeat pounding
through this dead air beat

Try to say “I am not okay”
you cut across with “anyway”
you love the sound
of your own defeat
you just want me there
to nod and say okay

The next time you talk right through me
like I am dead air
don’t flinch when something snaps
I don’t care

I used to whisper
used to try soft words
now every syllable walks in
with knives and birds

I’ve got teeth in my throat
talons itching to tear
you turned kind talk to a choke chain
I am ripping it out right here

You will tell them I snapped
for no reason
that I went cold over night
you will never mention
the years of talking at brick walls
the way you kept my side
of the story
out of sight