long hours today
the minutes sinking deep
the seconds sinking deeper
filling me up all of the way
no room, love, sorry

full
but hasn’t hit bottom yet
hasn’t touched center
yet

and it’s like the song:
“you know I’d never hurt you that way
you’re just so pretty
in your pain”

am I beautiful to you now?
bent, humbled, begging.
cold,
can’t find a way to look you in the eye.

no room for anything but the clocks,
for anything but the guilt ticking and trickling
down my throat
sinking deep with the minutes
sinking deeper with the seconds

I don’t think I can be beautiful to you
on my feet,
spine straight.
I think I must be cut at the joints.