the burn

there is a fire
that burns
in the sky
in the heart of man
that forces change
in everything
so through the pain
through the hurt
through the hate
the words we blurt
there is a meaning
in everything
even in cages
some birds sing
in the wild
wolves howl
inside hearts
twisted scowls
the burn is real
only if
you dare to feel

in her shadow

Evening comes

Draped in shadows and regrets

All that could-should-would have been

Melodies heard and heaven seen

When pain becomes anesthesia

Mild discomfort of its presence

Touch and prod to see if it's real

Dissecting memories just to feel

Something

Hold

the whisper is a scream
coming from beyond the dark mountains
a warning, an instruction, an insult
a knell for the arrival of pain

keep it together, the night whispers
while the insects crawl inside my bones
chittering their rebellions, vexing susurrations
while all my defenses are gone

everything is open, all naked
revealed to the elements
the shock to the system
is yet to strike home

in the end at the finish line
bewildered, surprised
how did we make it this far
did we run or did we hide

the taste

rancid bite marks
tattoos of mistakes
swirling in the muddy waters
of past and memories
nostalgia is a bitch
with fangs made of rusted steel
the infection is for the ages
this longing shall not heal
the bitter taste of coal and ashes
can't just spit it out
they will have to rip this jaw out
and this throat, this heart, and lungs
to make this caricature something human
perhaps, mayhaps, there is some hope
no matter how bleak
perhaps, the sun still rises
somewhere in the east
shrouded in the visions of the past
while the future looks on with dead eyes