Like the battered women

Sleeping flower
you set on fire
igniting vines that claw and twist
New York City boy admired
clinging to your crucifix
cigarette butts over flow
ashtrays meant for those
hard to kiss
and like the battered women,
you sink their ship again
linoleum floor
you've been here before
and slept on
while you beg and plea
waiting for your wounds to heal
expert suffering done in private
polished to the enth degree
and like a legend shook your hand
while walking across the street
and like the battered women
you set it out to sea