i always thought 

i could only be 

in love with strangers 

i kept breaking bodies 

drinking from the harrowed bone dew 

believing this was self sacrifice 

i didnt see the monster 

in the night 

all the whisperings 

as i slept 

i couldnt see them 

because they were as much a part of me 

as my nightmares 

i thought 

i could only love strangers 

because they left me 

at peace in my own skin 

now i realise 

i only loved strangers 

because i didnt have to think of the consequences 

i am no better 

then the villains in the fairy tales 

and i can only see that now

that i am in love 

with someone 

who stayed once i cracked open their willow limbs 

they show me how 

i cant just use their body 

as fire wood 

and pretend that 

burning is always 

a way to show how much you love someone 

why didnt i realise 

burning also 

produces ash 

i guess i never stayed around 

long enough to see it