if I could escape the river, crawl under
hide myself away until I heal enough
for travel

would you come to me
by silver shadow of tree

if your face is open like leaves
as I wander after your sadness
eating every bite of tears a roux
so deserved as to be dissolved

why do we still dance like demons
my shame, where has it gone?
shame came from other places
never from you, only joy

****** mysteries lie on the floor
unapologetically left to the tides
we died quietly, on a weekday

no one saw the corpses, we
forgot to obey, no more photos
now pointless the perps moan

staggering along dragging
limp notebook resentments
relentless as ever

time, the very best trickster
eventually won the game
smile to see with no surprise

love’s flag is still alive