Shattered

Today,

The world's an open wound

From severed legs,

A broken glass of blood-red wine,

A message on their phone

You never should have left.

You never should have left.

This room,

The bed,

The injured couch,

Are not your final destinations.

Days unborn are yet gestating.

There are mouths

And there are lips,

And some will smile bright,

And some will scowl,

And some will kiss

And others will say no.

For months or maybe years

They'll sit in black and white.

The days are just before you

When the scarlet color blooms return.

You never should have left.

The chilly grey and blurred cascade

Of faces breathing ghostly smoke

In winter airs

That burn within your chest

Have not left you.

One day

You'll rise

From bed and couch

And tread

The slivered glass

That mines your floor

And step outside

Your latch-locked door

And go.

- 2/13/26