How to be devoured

 
It doesn’t hurt unless you let it
It won’t kill you if you can’t see it
It can’t control you if you’re strong
But I wasn’t.
Strong
 
Instead I broke apart
Left around all these pieces of my heart
Wanting everything to just restart
But it didn’t.
Restart
 
This is when the wind howls
This is when the cold bites
Even when the heat of summer prowls
And the springs rivers ignite
There is no one left to signal the hours
To let you know you’ve paid the price
Just the bones of last night’s meal
And another roll of the dice
 
It doesn’t see you unless it wants to
It won’t find you if it’s locked up
It can’t come for you if it’s hands are tied
But they weren’t.
Tied
 
And so I splintered like a branch
Tiny thorns piercing this soft skin
Wanting to feel something, anything
But I couldn’t.
Feel
 
This is when the thing devours
This is when it’s hands wring
Even when young, it made everyone cower
And the elders refuse to sing
There is empty space for it to pace and scour
To let you know it’s time again
Just come forward one last time
It promises with a grin
 
It doesn’t think it’s meals will ever end
Forever handed to it over and over again
To do with what it pleases
All the while you wait in pieces
Scattered.
 
This is how it takes
It lures you in with trust
This is all it takes
One minute until thrust
Once it’s at full power
You are his to devour