Words&Dirt

She took me with her when she went,
Down to the dark place people go.
She plied my surface, left me bent,
No pack to pack, no space to stow.

She broke the compass, tore the map,
Blinding out to ocean’s edge.
She flayed the wound with stinging strap,
Made offerings to drive her wedge.

The growth of both is stymied by the dance we do in red.
The howl and growl we long for can’t remember what it said.
Extend and blend yourself with me pretending we belong.
The silent violence breaking us will find its siren song.

I wake and wonder, drift and drown,
In callous corners find my grace.
I breathe and blunder, curse this crown,
Gemstones wrapped in rotting lace.

Now I find there’s something left,
Up from the dark place people go.
I dragged it here all by myself,
What it cost I’ll never know.