Wet Cave

I fled from the thought
the way one escapes pain through poison

wondering in cave blindness
if I could ever be patient enough

so
I save your lines
I plan to keep them close
to mine

because the more I fall in
this shroud
the more my voice falls faint

I need a stand-in
to help hold this together
to help bail water

that the cave in
its caliginous hospitality
has given me generously

my memories of our
conversation water logged and
swollen,

the ink now indiscernible
now that I can’t remember
what you said

I’m sorry but
I had to tear your face
out of my book

but at least now we know
where we stand-

with cold feet.