Tango

when you wear
your heart
on your sleeve
people
will punch you
in the arm

& yet

excuse me for a moment
i have
a bloody nose & a thumping pulse
making
sambas & lindy hops
in the public square
in the marketplace
in the opera house

because

i’m just
one
beat away
from
giving up
& yet
to give up
is to give them
what
they
want

& I will never
never
ever do that