Ah

When he betroths me to his future
what can I do?
I only stumble at the words
I should be saying
and grin pointlessly instead

When he takes a hand
and puts it to my face
and I like it
what's the difference
if he pulls it back at first
and puts it harder?

Then the things he says
so quiet
shout a promise he won't say
give me hope beyond the reason
that I said I'd never sway

So I sit upon the shelf
and look upon the life he lives
and he casts his eyes upon me
every time
he makes a choice
and he brushes past my ear
whispers nothing
and I shake.