Masochism...... Poem by RIC BASTASA

these are the sharp nails
that we hammer
upon our heads

we have not spent most
evenings for sound sleep

these are the hammers that
we keep on holding with both hands

the bombs that we keep in our
hearts
that we detonate when we can
no longer tolerate

these are the thousand deaths that
we have experienced
because we love cowardice more
that courage

these are the loves that we let go
because we never learned to stand on our own

these are the glasses of poison that we drink
on most decisions that we make

because we are more afraid
to be what we really are....