Blood of the Covenant

Leaning sideways from the weight I shoulder
  wondering when all this drama will blow over
They choose venom and violence, refusing to confront their pain
Our blood defines us as family
   but we’re divided by choices we’ve made
People who claim to love me sink their claws in the same
The ones I would die for drain me

I am sick of being branded by my failures
   drawn under my skin, below all this ink
Crucify me for art I design
   while ignoring me for scars I hide
Knives in hand; they assert dominance in vain
Signing names on my bones like lovers carve on bark
   but all I hear is your voice as I break

Nobody modeled proper right from wrong
   yet wait for me to know a good thing
So, do I sever our binds or hang around a while?
For now, I remain clueless and well-contained

I have family blooming from different trees
   while withering branches and poison fruit spring from mine
I know we’re tainted from our roots
   but nothing should excuse victimizing the youth
Never did I see a hero, only bad seeds
Recovering from trauma but still alive to end things
   I will not carry this curse
A disease ran in our blood until it met me

No longer will I defend the lengths I’ll stride
   to defend my peace of mind
Chosen, by birth, or pre-planned – if my trust falls from their hands
   I will count them out as a new dead limb

Consider it a culling as I rid my circle of vampires,
   false friends and any ill-intended
Those determined to snuff out my heart
   lie blinded by the dark of me
A cleansing to bring rebirth; a new me
   rising like a phoenix
My world may drown in flames as I bear witness
This is the burning of our bridges