Your gunshot demise
slices through my Tuesday night
with the precision of
flames in confined spaces.

The images make tidal waves
in my mind and move these
sometimes sober particles
into turbulent commotion.

We are spinning towards destruction
and I'm closing my mouth
to hold these words in,
choking on my thoughts
to keep reality at bay.

I don't know
I don't know
I don't know
I don't know how this ends
other than with pain
and obliteration.

In times like these,
I contemplate marking my flesh -
a deliberate betrayal to
counteract the indifference of
mother earth.

You call us your children,
nurture us and lead us to life
only to digest these years
in your acrid recesses.

Things fall apart
with spontaneous cruelty
and this (this excuse for expression)
will never quite be finished...

until we all are.

10/22/2003

Posted on 10/22/2003
Copyright © 2024 Karen Michelle