Fence-Sitter

I don’t want to be the rope used in your tug-of-war,
Split down the middle of the fence.
I don’t want to act amused when you’re a bore,
Polite smiles don’t give much suspense.

I don’t want to be the baby on your knee,
Gurgling, clueless and complacent.
I don’t want to be yet another absentee,
Disappearing to test your patience.

I don’t want to be the white flag on the battle field,
Giving in just to end the fight.
I don’t want to be painstakingly revealed.
Save the mystery, hide me from the light.

I don’t want to be codependency disguised as love,
The romantic wolf in sheep’s clothing.
I don’t want to the trophy placed on the shelf above,
Soon the trophy case will be closing.

I want to shake myself out of this internalized hell,
Waking up to join the present tense.
I want to dispose of this self-afflicted shell,
Time to jump off this tentative fence.