Let’s cast aside all pretense here

I’m first in line to admit fault

and this one is a doozy of

the highest order and import

I lose myself to imagination

phantom possibilities

I chase with such veracity

all to crash and burn again

throw myself into the fire

attempting to smother flames

we surely could just walk around

self-sacrifice so far beyond

any explanation

either reasonable or otherwise

I play the role of martyr even

in the acts where none is needed

and never seem to understrand

why the scars of my stupidity

can never heal or disappear

I bleed myself repeatedly

for nothing more than easy vision

of the dark red footsteps as

the other person turns away

what else would a sane person do

when someone cuts in front of them

with no other purpose than

to fall right at their feet?

Soaked in sanguine self-importance

lying about all the reasons

slowing dying in the embers

of emotions only I will ever know

the pointless, empty, broken victim

of my own incompetence