what puddles, what pain
have i swallowed with my latest waking breath
casting my drowning in bronze

if i were less afraid of death
like the white roar of a summer day
or a raining whisper of winter mornings

days that we're still waking up from
doubled over in bed from a sunny nightmare
when we were made of younger tremblings

i would have drank deeper and more freely
from you but i was only clay and unfired
and i heard so many bells in the distance

silver they sounded, some other light
that glinted into wires
and lifted me by the arteries in my wrists

and all the diamonds you had fed me
turned into steam that escaped
and scalded the backs of my eyes

swept up, i went with it
pierced by the early rays of a grey sun
swirling so wildly in the light

so fiercely alone i danced
and carried my own water and wine
plucking a life from drops of vapor

but the shadows were so cold

i have slept on broken bricks
my clothes are tattered from my sharp skin
gnashing my teeth, my eyes torn open

because the streets glitter with ice
that i devour with my gaze
stumbling upon its silver surface like a new fawn

wolves praise my precocious footing
and howl in concern over my scowling
why the long face?

take away this ice or devour me
release me from these radiant damnations
i would give all your diamonds back

for a lump of coal that burns in your shape
and smells like the crisp leaves
that were slowly dying when we met

02/09/2008

Author's Note: dream, interrupted.

Posted on 02/09/2008
Copyright © 2026 Peter Hsu