the knot

a poem by nain f. ladak

the knot gets tighter
every day—

harder to break
stronger—

she stands straight-
er
can bear mo-
re

It’s harder to see
what she’s hiding

Who she is?
No one can see in

No harm will come to her!
It is not her

She forgets
No one ever knows

The knot gets tighter
some days it’s 

         hard 
           to 
       breathe

but she keeps going
what other choice is there?      

Unr
      a 
         v
           e
             l
              i
              n
               g now

would be worse than 
nothing

She is SOMEWHERE
That Girl would have gone
nowhere

This girl was someone.

the knot 
         
               took 

                             space

           |  bitchy
           .
      wound 
        tight
           .
           |  hardass
           |  cunt

she was going to be 
something

in time