Roses
the roses
were bleeding
think they still are
but it’s dark
back there
so i can’t be sure
i can hear the petals
crackle and crunch
like the leaves
like snow
like fire
like an echo
i pick ‘em up
and turn ‘em over
and they turn red
in my hands
and i’m standing there
looking down
at the abyss
as if i’m watching myself
from afar
i wake up weeping
the pain is as real as it was
that night
i feel my way through the dark
and turn on the light
it feels like
it just happened
but it didn’t …
that was 31 years ago
the last gift
i gave you
was red
TL
(Written March 1, 2024)