all I know

Carefully constructed cover

reveals and conceals

the open-book

with hidden outliers and addendums attached

deep within the recesses

of the glossy cover.

To discover these truths

is to deface the cover:

inflicting deep gashes and poisonous wounds

on self from vicious resistance.

Goal: expose the truth within.

Blood intermingled drips and oozes

amidst the ravaged truth.

You sit back.

You sigh victorious exhaustion.

You found it.

We both are revealed.

Weary,

 relieved,

      broken.

You are not finished.

You grab the subtle knife

of conquered knowledge

and plunge it

DEEP

into the already gaping wound.

You finished the job.

Walk away.

I lay exposed and bloodied;

my shame displayed in carnage.

The entrails and addendums lay strewn about

for all to see.

All I know is to recover.

I will smooth over my wound,

find my lost gloss

and hope  no one notices the ruby smear

reminding

on every page.