An open wound

Red, throbbing

Even a little bloody

Sensitive

So, you’re asking me to give you a pencil

And give you a choice: press the lead tip

Inside of it 

Or choose not to

But if you feel like you have power now

Because I’m exposed and you’re not

Because you’ve got the pencil now

And all I have is this wound

You can do whatever you like

You can decide when you want to stab my wound

How hard, how soft

How much blood you’re aiming to draw

Or maybe, you see my wound

You don’t take the pencil

Maybe you’re wondering why I’m even offering it 

to you

Perhaps, instead, you grab bandaids

You give them to me

You tell me it will heal

All wounds heal, if you give them time

If you treat them right

Should I show my wound or wait for it to heal? 

Waiting takes too long

Your reaction is a luck of the draw

No matter the choice, it’s all a risk

-SHANTAL