Broken Bones

On the edge I stood
shaking and cursing
to no one
and echoes to me.
in the sky red clouds
hovered slowly below
a pale, weak sun’s
tears streamed the lush black lands
and as I watched a
struggle between
the light and the dark
shadows all at once, my wings were
stripped of their feathers
I plunged through a flurry
of souls, lost and searching
for their bodies’
last
locations on earth.
how worthy were the rolling
hills whose peaks sheltered
our broken bones
were mended by the loving
hands
of a stranger close by.


in the shallow water
I waded and sloshed
careful to disturb
the shells of vulnerable
minds
pristine and fresh
the thoughts
flowing freely like
blood stained or cracked
windows
wiped clean by the sleeves
of our
straight jackets
strewn alongside
our broken bones
gathered and replaced
with flowers dry and quiet
from the passersby


in a dream I wept
for my bony wings were
ugly
is what they chanted
across fields of glassy eyes
red from anger
blue with sadness
screaming and aching
we searched but could not find
their bodies’
last locations on earth.
over head rain fell
into a deep sleep
could not even heal his wounds
were cut and rash , open
for more
they dragged and tattered
our broken bones
could not be gathered
could not be fixed
were burned and
left behind
by those who wished not be nearby.

Date Unknown, 1999