SURRENDER

SURRENDER

she wrote her poem
every metaphor
bullet-pointed

every syllable
metal-jacketed

every image
a grenade

when she let rip
a whole belt, an entire clip,

out of ammo
she had nothing left
to attack
           defend herself with
not a word
to work with

her critics sensing this
out of blood
    moved in
for the kill

forcing her surrender
unless
    there was no surrender