The First Easy Breath- 2019 Poems

In Death

Every tree a mirage

every flower a hand of the dead bursting through the surface

we are all always desperately grasping for,

reaching toward

life

at least, that's what I'd like to believe. 

mounds and mountains

scraps for the ever present more

we are ever running toward

come to fruition even in death

especially in death

and that makes the whole thing not seem so bad

swallow the pill hard- without water

the anabiotic with the alcohol

the skin disease that's just a freckle

the rust filling in the cracks of your new pocket watch

conquer the void any way you can

I'll fall with you into the serenity of release

Our botched and bloody palms

ripped from the monkey bars

the gritty strength of our weight foreshadowing every clenched jaw and bitten back finger nail

destruct the entire earth with a pickax

the infected needle scattered unrecognizable amongst the hay

buried unforgivingly in the familiar and blending in just fine

how much more do you think you can take?

how much longer?

and shall we applaud with our grief

the thundering aria of accomplishment

At the foot of stone

growing wet with memory

growing in ways my knees could never stretch

while flesh still held them tight.