Bound

In the center, I,
swirling, sure in the pull
of my mass—neutron

Circling, she, tethered
to me—proton

Only when bound one
to the other
am I fixed, force
elemental, shaped
by dark matter and
god particle

Broken from her
by a blast of destruction
I’d wobble unstable,
freed I’d radiate
residual fallout

Proton! Bind me!
Keep me bound
to you, bound
and stabled.