bruised beauty

i like to be beaten
she whispered into the phone
on an extension cord from yellowknife

i like when he hits me
probably most of our fights could have been avoided
if i hadn't egged him on
(he enters the room, she giggles, he flirts, leaves again)

he's the only one taking care of me now
i love him
but some days he nearly kills me

(i cover the phone and sob)
you're but 16;
what do you know of love sweetie?

he enters again, she hurriedly lies about who i am,
returns to the phone, keeps talking
and i crawl deeper and depper inside the hole that is my heart
trying to dig up wisdom for this
bruised and beautiful begger