he can only feel

               if he's slicing his skin open

if he can feel blood

               pouring from a wound

he can only feel

                if the feeling is pain

the more it hurts 

                the more he feels

she can only cry 

                behind closed doors

if she's alone in the dark

                 she can cry a river

she can only cry 

                 when no ones looking

if no one sees

                 then it never happened

she only knows love

                 as mistreatment

the more he hurts her

                 the more he loves her

she only knows love 

                 the way it was taught to her

love and pain are the same

                 he must love her

he only knows encouragement 

                 as a good beating

the only time he's acknowledged

                 is when a punching bag is needed

he only knows encouragement

                 as anger and hate

but he'd rather be acknowledged

                 than be invisible

she only knows happiness

                 as having sex

she's only happy 

                 when feeling needed

she only knows happiness

                 between her legs

if nothing else is good

                 sex is

they can only be at peace

                 when drunk or high

when they don't have to face the world

                 they feel peaceful

they can only be at peace

                with a bottle or a joint

then they can float away

                and leave everything behind