hug to crush

I don't need a hug at all.

In fact, my bones
would break
and my heart give way,
torn by the shards
in the splintered embrace
of my inwardly-gathering cage
of ribs, and pulped by the crush
of my breath-held lungs,
until finally, the hug is released -

and I breathe

in as deep as pain gets,
and everything pops
right back into place til' the next.

When I see it coming I'm like
"what the hey," I'm like

"no hug!" I'm like
No means "NO"
not "HUG"

but I don't have the chance to say
what I'm like.

Oh ok, I guess
I will have a hug.
When push comes to shove,
as it very well might.
Go head now, I'm strong

enough,

at least,

for now,

I'm trying to pick my fights.

And you
are one of the ones

that I will allow.