Forgive me.
Forgive this undying love
That brings you
Such distaste.
Forgive my heart's honesty.
Forgive it's endurance.
Forgive my broken mind.
Forgive my tears,
Fervent
Burning as they fall.
Forgive my sickness,
Forgive my rage.
Forgive each pitiful word
That you won't hear.
Forgive the things
I can't undo.
Forgive my memory.
Forgive
My joyless life.

Dear*
I can't call anyone else that,
After you.
I meant every word,
I left them to you.
Only you were so dear,
Only you
Earned that word.

I fell through the cracks,
Of existence —
Behind shadows
Past the burning stars.
Knowing
The silent comfort of
Liquid black finality.

It used to fill my chest
But now sinks sickly in my stomach
Shrinking daily
Cracked and wounded
Sorely shamed &
Counterfeit.

11:38pm Friday night
Lost again
To your memory
The nights we spent
Blissful
Unaware of what
we could lose
Dashed upon the rocks
Bitter
Disappointed
Unsurprised.

My love burned away,
Like wax.
Leaving just the wick.
A psyche left exposed,
A soul now raw and sick.
Though complications ended,
The days left in-between.
I live among the shades
Passing by unseen.

And the stone word fell
On my still-living breast.
Never mind, I was ready.
I will manage somehow.

Today I have so much to do:
I must **** memory once and for all,
I must turn my soul to stone,
I must learn to live again--

Unless . . . Summer's ardent rustling
Is like a festival outside my window.
For a long time I've foreseen this
Brilliant day, deserted house.