Turn to Them Your Back Also

As a little lamb in Sunday school I learned:

The meek shall inherit the earth

Love your enemy, turn your cheek

And even, kill them with kindness.

But it is hard kill my enemy with kindness

When my enemy doesn’t know who they are

When I keep turning cheek to cheek declaring,

“No, it doesn’t hurt. Nothing is wrong.”

Then the only thing that dies is me,

My voice muffled under a swollen jaw,

My body shrinking from the weight of so much benevolence.

Sometimes, the only kindness necessary

Should be given to Myself, to allow myself

To ask for help in shrugging off the burden

Of meekness, to massage  my throat

Until my vocal chords re-emerge, victorious,

With a yell, “GET OFF. GO AWAY. STOP.”

I will not stay meek for the sake of your peace

I’ll stop sacrificing myself in the name of avoiding conflict.

I will keep screaming the truth to you until

It’s safe to turn my back on you,

Instead of just my cheeks.