distance from heart

i was born under the sign of the dragon,
a survivor
not a victim, or a number
to accompany your article.
Not a stat, or a percentage
or data to formulate your scientific opinion.
My definition is not up for debate.

These are the truths-
verbal abuse is Not
freedom of speech.
Sticks and stones
do not apply
in adult conversations
and how simple minded to tell me
it would apply
in such a situation,
that words carry no weight
and words are just empty.
What position have you been in
and what scars do I have to show
to make you go away with
your fucked up ideas
on what is not
abuse
and what is not
abuse by your
definitions
if bruises show up
on skin
to what degree
do you weigh them?
Do you measure width, tone?
Distance from heart?
Sit there and tell me what
abuse is and what
abuse is not
and all I can do
is not leap up
at your words
and strike
with what you believe is
the only form of abuse,
my fists.


Maybe it's a defense
mechanism
because you see
yourself behind
the mask,
flinging words
at your lovers
and it was not abuse,
no it was empty.
It was not meant
to hurt, no
it was empty.
but I am not trying
to get inside your
head, it was
never my intention
to empathize with
abusers.
And another thing,
defender of free speech man,
 why must
we chant, like children
"sticks and stones"
why not say mantras
like that
are not needed in
exchanges between
lovers.
See it's clear to me
what the definition of
abuse is,
it's clear to me
when words are meant to hurt
it's clear to me,
what side of the table
you sit.

Words leave scars
that your pri-vile-ged
self can't realize,
or see
or understand.
and words can carve
out niches in hearts
and thighs
and words
are daggers
meant to kill,
caress lightly &
leave imprints
reminders,
repetitious,
don't always form
calluses.
I leave you to
live in your
free speech state
with your rose-colored
glasses,
born under
the perfect son.