Nightshade

You're patient
Loving
And strong.
I'm scarred
Broken
And volatile.
Some days I'm the rose
Some days I'm the the thorn.
But either way
You stay
Loving me regardless of which you get.
Some days you drink the poison I give
Choking on it
But refusing to let me drink it alone;
And others you'll fight me,
Knocking the cup from my hand
As you remind me I'm more than what I've become.

Some days you let me scream and fight
Taking my blows
Until I collapse, sobbing in your arms;
And others you scream right back,
Nose to nose,
Telling me you're not afraid of my roars.

And then
Some days I give you softness
That has you holding me on your lap
Until you carry me to your bed;
And others I smile and laugh
Kissing you everywhere
As we sing and dance in the living room.

Some days I'm sunny and bright
As we spend the day in bed
Tangled together in a beautiful mess;
And others I rove my hands and lips
Tracing every inch of you
As we mark each other as 'mine'.

And it's because of that duality
The dichotomy that is
Us
That I trust you so completely.
I would never show this much of myself
Without that trust already there,
And there are no lips, arms, or hips,
That I trust more.

I give you what you ask
Knowing your intent is to strengthen my wings
And straighten my crown,
Despite everyone else that's attempted to tie me down
And rip the crown from my head.
You may inflict pain
But it's only to make me stronger,
A buffer to coal
Scratching at my surfaces
Again and again
Turning me to diamond
Ready to cut through this world
And tear it to shreds.

It's always my choice
Even when you're demanding my obedience,
Whether I want to be polished and strong
Or stay small and broken.
And you know which I'll choose:
The beautiful pain
That gives such exquisite results.
And you stand strong
A lighthouse in a storm
Guiding me in,
Insistent but calm,
As you show me the way.

And it's you
Standing behind me
Your arm around my waist
That gives me the strength to set the world aflame
Knowing you won't let it touch me,
Nor I, you,
Because together
We are the diamond, the wings, and the crown
And nothing can stop us.