Isolated Cactus

You said I had backbone-
in fact, a heart full of spines,
predictably, I was proud
when you said it defined me
unaware your complaint
was that they kept you at bay.

So I thought I’d absorbed
all the shit that you threw at me
staying unbowed in defiance
as you abused me so fluently,
and now the guilt will sear you
and I hope kill you one day.

And so that will leave me deserted,
with space to think freely
I always preferred being alone
with the time just to be me