poison trembles above,
looming,
dripping rancid memories that
rip into my bones and
claw out the life

even with the gun in my hand,
i can tell there is blood in the water

the souls of fireflies flutter and wander

toward them i find release

following them to the fields of chernobyl,
walking barefoot in a minefield,
crushing diamonds with my hands

darkness cannot pry open my
gores of gold

i will not die tamely

he will come in a dance of
letting go
and holding on