Keep Me

( please )

once you've lost me,
i am gone.

do not expect any less.
do not expect any more.

do not expect to come crawling back
five days,
five weeks,
five years
down the track
and have me leap into your arms,

and be overjoyed at the thought
“you want me back”.

that's the last thing i will be.
the last thing i will ever think.

i will lock you out of my still-loving heart
not regretting,
not trusting,
not sorry
for protecting myself from the pain you've caused.

my tears will not fall freely.
my sorrow will not precede my life.

i will lock you in a box and keep you there,
until the moment i can look back at the memories.

until i can find joy in our moments,
our kisses,
our touches,
your eyes,
and the joy that overcame me when you entered my mind.

my heart is a cage of steel,
and not many can pry open the bars.

count yourself lucky; second chances are rare,
and a third unheard of. your chances are up.