Once more with Peeling

Once more with Peeling (7th November 2008, 10.23am)

Rinse our hands of this and
then repeat;

the same mistakes
become unlearnt; will we ever
cave in, admit defeat?

Time has burned the candles
at both ends, the light diminished;
are we destined to end up lovers
still, or simply friends?

I have peeled back the layers
of my conscience, spilled the guilt;
I watch it coagulate on the desk,
skin wrinkling, tense.

Once more into the breach;
a war-zone, where we load our
weapons well; enemies on both
sides, we call it home.

And we shall fight across the
kitchen sink; vituperative and hard-
faced; old wounds are not erased;
push me, to the brink.

I’d rinse my hands of you but
it’s too hard, finding a replacement;
beloved, you contain my fears.
Break me, bastard.