there's a small man
living inside my heart
he knocks on the walls
with a paddle
whenever i'm sad
making sure i hurt
just a little more
he tells me
once you're old
you won't feel this
kind of pain anymore
so i bring my knees
to my chest
hide my face
and memorize the pain
some days he's an arsonist
running around
with a burning paddle
setting my heart on fire
it can be so unbearable
i'd call out to anyone
to extinguish the flames
because i'm a masochist
who's still scared of pain
