Unlace

I have tied too many ribbons to my ribcage
spending my nights pulling bows into knots
and interlacing lovers into my bones
until I was all string and no substance
I have sacrificed myself on altars of my own making
giving away everything, taking too much in return
and I have been all desperation and waiting
for someone to see me crying
just so they could help me stop

I have put pressure on points that were too sore
to hold the weight of my expectations
but I am ready to start untangling the snarl in my chest
to stop painting fictional saviors inside my eyelids
and keeping them shut tightly enough
to block out the sunlight

I am ready to unlace the streamers from my breast
and mend my bones before asking
anything of you