Some Long, Belated Day Poem by Patti Masterman

I broke my soul in two
Extracted out the marrow,
Distilled it in a cup
And drank it, warm and mellow.

Alienated friends
Lived out days in hiding;
My light beneath the bushel,
My soul within, abiding.

I smothered all my lovers,
Buried corpses deep,
When someone asks about them
I say they're just asleep.

I murdered my emotions
Burnt them in a kiln,
And formed them into pottery;
So never have to feel them.

Don't say you are my friend,
Just keep a space away
Or you'll suffer the same fate,
Some long belated day.