Fragile Paper Words

It's so easy to write down

Every bad word you've said to me

Light it on fire

Just to watch it burn

That's how weak your words are now

As thin as notebook paper

Easily shredded

Or crumpled in my fist

Or ignited swiftly

With one strike of my Bic lighter

It's funny that you thought

You had control of me

With your words

It's funny that you actually did

That I was once held

By such fragile paper words

At one time those words held me

Wrapped around me

In an embrace

An embrace because you fooled me

Tricked me into thinking

Your cruel, abusive words

Were somehow loving

You were family

So it gave you some kind of twisted license

To treat me like dirt

And now, I laugh at how you claw in vain

To wrap that crushing vice around me once more

You make up lies and tell them freely

All to try to regain control that slipped away

You project your own psychotic behaviours

Onto anyone but yourself

To deflect how insane you, yourself are

You are smoke and mirrors

A cloak and dagger

Deny it if you will

But I have your words in writing now

The burden of proof

Is fulfilled

I have all the proof I need

Threaded in

Absentmindedly?

Stupidly?

Among your lunatic prattle

I think you're so far gone from this world

You don't even know what you say anymore

Perhaps it was me walking away

Yanking the control away from you

That made you lose your mind

Now who would you control and manipulate

And use and abuse

Now that little sister had gone?

Well, not me

Your talons don't hold me anymore

Now your words are just ink on paper

If the ink is still wet, I can smudge it

I can destroy your words now

Because I am the fire

And your fragile paper words

Are the kindling

Fueling me

Inciting me

To achieve what I never thought possible

But now that I've taken back my power

I've decided

I won't destroy your words

No, that would be such a tragic waste

After all, words are sacred

Even words honed into weapons

I think I'll keep all the words you've said to me

I'm sure I'll find good use for them

And I promise you this

Your words will come back to haunt you

How many times did I tell you?

If you play with fire

You'll get burned