She declares herself a broken thing.
When she plays checkers, she gets a king
and keeps him safe and sound
She can't braid hair, she can't plait herself
into friendships and love lives
they unravel into the gravel
frayed hair ends, unable to make amends
She sleeps in the way that make you think
you are alive and well, but then she wakes
and then she breaks
Her kings line her back row, her background
she swore she'd keep them safe and sound
But the king is killed
no blood is spilled
But she swore she'd keep him safe and sound.
