Wretch

He keeps himself tied up in knots
Because he knows that he's not
The person she wants to let in
To absorb willingly into her skin

He can't quite delude himself enough
To entertain the notion of true love
He can't ignore the reality that
the rabbit pulled out of his hat
Is the only trick, in a repertoire
of illusions, he's mastered so far

For as long as painful memory stretches
He has kept close company with wretches
He takes each shot like it's medicine
And nurses wounds that store the poison
A fortification that will surely kill his liver
If he doesn't soon let acceptance deliver
The message to grant his pride permission
To finally wake up and pay closer attention
To the amount of time he wastes each lonely day
hoping someone will stop by and help kill the pain