I sit on the couch and outside
the thunder booms as loud as
the voice you raise to
tell me right from wrong

a flash of light,
for a second I can see
we could set the world on fire
if only we tried harder

glass and wood protect me from
the flooding outside my door
I want to swim in it
I want to dive headfirst

but you stop me, tugging on
the rope that loops through my ribs
blush pink cheeks and a frozen smile
limbs jerk as you pull

let me jump into the deep end,
please, I promise I can swim
or maybe stay afloat

but if I sink
no one would see
the water fill my throat