these holes in my heart
that I tried to fill with you
collapse into heaps of ribbons
that tear new life from my lips

how many times did I run
tongue-tied from them
& how many dead ends did I reach?

as soon as solace wraps his arms
around my middle
I feel you yanking my lungs
from my ribs

I remember painting empty landscapes
with the dirt under my nails
& thinking I would never see the dawn

now knuckles ripple
through flesh & bone,
ripping me open
so I spill out for all to see

when I think of him
I see stars falling from the sky
& I know that I’m home

your name falls dead from my mouth
as I crumple
& I pity the World
for having to listen to you