copper wire

Because I held my heart in my hair

Trapped in its cage,

Wrapping braids around ventricles

hidden from sun

Because I grew it long with love

Stretched thin,

wrapped around like copper wire

Because I felt your fingers in my hair

Searching,

Softly sorting through follicles

carrying current from your fingertips

Because the strands became snarled

Strangling tissue,

with the ridges in your fingerprints

Because you left my heart

Hidden in shadow,

Gave up your search

so I gave up the ghost.