I

broken gasp,
ghosts struggle for breath
in empty-mouthed former selves

II

eyes adjust,
rebelling
against a storm circling
with dust and demons.
blind, but still searching
through the silence for
the rust-locked screams choked
in the throat of this machine

III

resonance ripples softly
forward
babbling over stones
and gravity.
something was always
pulling him down.

IV

tongue tumbles
trying to profess truth
as the river stumbles forward
to those speaking soothe.