Places, Everyone

Settle
For the crumbs.

Settle for
The nothing-sums
We deign
To give
As if
That is
Enough.

Settle
For the scraps.

Settle for
The zero craps
We give you
When we toss
You -
And what little
Is left
At you -
Under the table.
Under
Our feet.

Settle
For abuse.

Settle for
The chains we loose
When we decide
To love you
Or accuse you -
It's really up to us -
To lose you - to confuse you
Or to leave you...
Always looking up.

Settle
For excuses.

Settle for
The lie our truth is
When we look back
On the past
Aghast
At the dying embers
You remember.

How dare you tell it?

The sins you claim
We did.
The ones
That burned your skin.

Settle
For I am entitled
To every charred
Remnant.
Every crumb, scrap, damn
Piece of it -

        of you -

Whatever, right?

Same difference.