Jennifer Pickering

Invulnerable.

Invincible.

At least in principle.

This act, almost convincible,

but it’s not them I’m convincing,

when I’m already bleeding,

not them I’m deceiving into believing

that I’m not already grieving my chest is not heaving,

this self-deception,

self-deprecation, is a simple reflection of my own condemnation.

Their words cannot hurt, their actions are pointless

because I’m already mindless,

my emotions are voiceless,

my pain is a choice that I share with no other,

no partner or lover,

will ever discover as my emotions

they lay undercover.

The perfect disguise for onlooking eyes.

And if anyone tries to plot my demise,

I’ll tell them I’ve already tried.