It has to hurt first.
Be safe, they say. Watch yourself.
It’s not like it thirsts for blood,
but it may as well- the way it does.
Carelessly consuming everything you feed it,
anything in between,
whatever remains in the afterglow.
Let go, they say, that’s all you need do.
Sure, it’s not like it thirsts for blood,
but it sure knows where to find it.

You need two hands just to wake it,
the persistence to prime it,
the courage to face it after all the warnings.
You need two deep breaths,
and a moment of silence before you begin.

It cries out like a banshee of chain and gears,
louder than reassurance,
but trust, you need only let go
and it all stops;
the whaling,
the violence.
Though in order to know anythings gone wrong,
it has to hurt first.