In this lonely cave of mine 
miners mine the winding way
seeking glitter and gold
but filling lungs with dust and coal 
the walls are crumbling
like sugar snaps
that rot your teeth
for even trying to indulge 
I don’t deserve the toil
I pray my thoughts take the day shift
because I can’t afford overtime
and all these **** taxes
I feel like certain songs hold up walls better than beams
and hearts better than strings 
and minds better than skulls
and bodies better than spines
melodies pulse and sway
like flickering flames
they fill the darkest space with warm poetry
and alone, not lonely
I sleep tonight