every day we walk on
your back.
we stick needles in
your spine and fill
your lungs with our smoke.
we look you in the eye while
we close our hands around your neck. 

every day you
love us, cleaning our spills
to cradle us again.
we are fleas, but
you love us even when we bite. 

you keep trying to grow.
we keep trying to
cut you down.