Scratching the Surface (Poems)

Burning the Dead

Hush, now

Try your tears

Stand up, we're getting

Away from here.

Walk through the dust

Just push on ahead

Don't be scared 'cause tonight,

We're burning the dead.

---

See the people in the street

Shadows in the night

Trudging towards the center

Tired of the fight

Burden on their shoulder

Heavy lidded eyes

Broken down, and weary

Just like you and I

---

It's gone on too long,

Don't 'cha think?

This war

Inside

Our minds.

Distrusting out friends

Distrusting ourselves

I see now

We've wasted

Our time.

---

Wonder how we fell

Crumbled so easily

Turned against each other

Hatred came so easily

But no more will we walk this path

Never, never again.

United at last, in our misery,

Tonight, we're burning the dead.

---

Bonfire blazes

In the middle of the square

Waves of heat roll off it

But no one stops to stare.

Tugging on our demons

(They used to be so small)

But now it takes my whole strength

To carry mine at all

---

It was some unspoken

Compromise.

Between

Our broken

Hearts.

And I'm not hopeful-

Will I ever be again?

But it's time

To light up

The dark

---

---

Fire licks my face

But I don't feel the pain

Heave my demons over my shoulder

Watch them burn in the flames

Step back and watch the people

Who used to be my friends

Let go of their burdens into the blaze

Finally letting it end.

And they scream for us to save them,

Trying to pull us back,

But we just stand, emotionless

Numb to their attack.

And as the flames rise higher,

There's a loosening in my chest

'Cause the things I cherish are burning

And

I

Can

Breath

Again.