The Commitment

The lie is out now, a bird from a cage.

I’ve written the line on the bottom-most page.

I said that the money went into the rent,

not into the pocket of the man that I met.

I look at your eyes, so steady and blue,

and watch as you take what I’m saying as true.

My stomach is turning, a slow, heavy roll,

but I’m already deep in the middle of this hole.

Under the table, out of your sight,

my thumb digs in with all of its might.

I’m marking my palm with a crescent of red

to pay for the words that I just finished said.