My sister, the hydra

She’s suf­foc­at­ing in the midst
of red blown glass
each breath shat­ters silence
crazed chaotic edges
her bal­ance is delicate,
slid­ing insane
she slips into mad­ness and eleg­ant pain

You fail to fathom her purposes
absurd out­bursts and alienation
your inflec­tions arc in restrict­ing coils
order: everything in its place
You’re drown­ing in tolerance,
drip­ping with calm,
you sink into mad­ness and cin­na­mon balm.

I’d sketch you heads if I thought
num­ber­ing barbs would help
you glance limply and
con­tinue your blunt criticism.
I’m merely the sound­ing board
tattered and torn
I dive into mad­ness and splin­ter­ing scorn