I’m covered in the brink of tears
the link to a memory long passed
I’m covered in an inky mass of words
words that don’t last
I’m covered in the thought to act
the thought of change
that never comes
I’m covered in a promising past
a waiting present
an uncertain future
I’m covered in the misty belief
that one day my time will come
I’m covered in the sawdust of whittled mindsets
that leave me exposed
I’m covered in the brown and blue
of the heavy world that I put on my shoulders
I’m covered in the dusty thoughts
that I was so sure of but am no longer
I’m covered in decisions and lines
puzzles and equations
I’m covered in a flicker of light
sparking one eyelash at a time
until it reaches my dull brown eyes
I’m covered in a soul that has been scraped new
still raw from the peeling
but smooth and ripe
and ready to be covered in
love


© Zoe Johnson 2011