CW: Sexualized Violence of a Minor (male) | Sapling’s Apology

could it be that he's afraid
you are the man in the woods
threatening with knife, tempting 
to cut out his innocence
for future use -

in dying man's nightmare.

could it be that he's afraid
you are the man in the woods
who froze his throat and filled his mouth 
for nothing more than a release - 

the tadpoles of Endorphine Creek.

Could it be that he's angry
because we useless saplings were
just up the street, a rough-edged skipping stone 
away from the clenched voice -

my big brother.

Could it be that I'm sorry
because had I heard him 
not even my tap root could have prevented me
from becoming the mighty wooden predator
who would have left the bladed-prey -

without a prayer.

…

image Alex Soddard