If You’re Offering

I’d never ask you not to hurt me
my language is pain
your silence is only a kind of relief
A refrain
it doesn’t worry me,
It doesn’t  touch
In fact, when you say nothing
it doesn’t sound  like much. 

Come on and hurt me
if you want to communicate
I know it’s sick, it’s deranged
but it’s innate.
At least, it has been since the day he made it true
Since he taught me love’s a sprawling shade,
a bleeding bruise.

A simple pooling of the blood
under the skin
collected secrets
discarded men

So don’t desert me
if you want to make me cry
that doesn’t hurt a dog
who’s trained just to survive.

I know I scare you
can’t change a thing,
so go on, hurt me if
you’re offering.