been raking piles of glass for weeks
every time it rains,
a new layer rises

going around in circles
retracing each shard

no one walks barefoot
yet I see blood everywhere

blisters protruding through these gloves
can’t keep anything healed

having eye spasms
sun hits at every angle

if I made all this up,
would you still offer a bandaid?

if I told the truth,
would you hate me any less?

07/07/2005