Emptier
still
i can plant my feet on the ground
stand up straight
exhale
but if the ground cracks get to me
when
underground
dark
shaking
panic inspiring
those cracks are closer
moving too slowly
still scared
now it feels
distant
numb
less
forever
then one crack
slips grab me drags me
now i look up at the ground sky sun cracks
cheek to salted knee
missing
no ladder will be thrown down
just have to scrape upwards
but i just can’t yet
time goes by
and by
still missing still can’t yet
still want to
new
i left for a few
felt like a snap and a lifetime
all at once
stared at lights
then sunlight poured back into me
stepped on pavement
everything felt solid underneath again
then the sun set
stars took a vacation
i went back
ground became gelatin
light taken back from me
here we find ourselves again
nothing generates what i need
i can’t create enough rain
to make a rainbow
only rain overcast
but one day the sun will restore
rainbows glimmer
cheeks stretch
still waiting for the day knowing it’ll get here
hourglass
quick
time goes
all this talk of
recharge
self-care
all time
burying me quickly
if i could freeze it
stare at the glass
read
think write
touch the glass
swim upward
break free
broken glass
sand trails
time will move again
with the grace of my hand
sunlight will heat us
we’ll all be where
we dream to be
the great extraction
please let me
open the door
light in
smog out
no key
code
nothing here to
break the door
a window
dig out
I can
kick
scream
cry
all comes out
nowhere else to go
ankle deep
murky black tears
elbow deep
nearing window
floating on
glass shatters
move out
relief
HEADER BY: VALERIE LETTS
