To The Batman Poem by Robbie Coburn

I've always wanted to ask you
why you had to bleed for them.
why you could never cover your eyes.
why you loved the ruin of their mouths
and cradled their bones.

remember, you can only chase
something unreachable for so long
before it begins to claim your flesh.

even when the night belongs to you.
even when you can feel the dark rain
as it falls against your face.
even when you think you are alone.

you always said you would rather
they harmed you
than retaliate.
you wanted them to be well.

remember, you won't always
be eight years old.
the night is not a vacuum.
the scars across your skin
are only a mask
made of your blood.

that tells you the gunfire isn't real.
that tells you that you were
never here,
after they left you
and you were afraid of everything.