Heartstrings, Dreamsongs: A Book of Poetry

I Know Better

I know better than to speak

To say a word is deadly.

You are strong and I am weak,

Neither of us are friendly.

I know better than to sleep,

The briefest nap will leave me,

For with no sound, you will creep,

And with no remorse kill me.

I know better than to flinch,

My pokerface can't be broken.

If I move, just an inch,

It will seem my weakness was spoken.

I know better than to meet your eye,

For you're a cockatrice, a murderous soul,

And you'll turn me to stone and away you'll fly,

And use my remaining skin as coal.

I know better than to say the truth,

Our competition is built of lies, as proper,

And we've been aiming to win since our youth,

The prize called silver has been merely copper.

I know better than to offer peace,

Beg for this to almost end,

For you'll use my blood as fleece,

And all my bones you will bend.