her crumbling foundation

seems to strangle her heart;

there's a reason they call

your ribs a cage.

they've burned her soul;

it's tarnished but lovely;

if you take a peak in the dark,

you can see the embers rage.

and the tiger inside is

clawing to come out,

he's being crushed and under-fed.

sometimes she fears

he might vanish;

as her heart becomes bigger

while it's filled up with dread.