there was a bird in your yard with a broken neck

lying underneath the cottonwood tree
you begged me not to, but I killed it quickly
to end the hurt and the sound of its little pained cries

we buried it deep in a box with old valentines
written in red pen and glitter from girls in your class
I remember a few of them used to say I was ugly
but I didn't tell you,
you were already crying

grass stained knees
running through the dark

pudding with raisins
catching bugs in glass jars

things changed during that summer
I mean
I still came over to eat cake on your porch
cause now it gave me an excuse to not talk
when my mouth was so full

so this time I need you to break my poor neck
press your bare feet on my skin and into the grass
put me out of the misery I brought on myself
and cover me up with sweet loving words.