Wincing

As I stood there,
Wincing,
Curtain of wings
Garrisoned heart

I knew the heat of fire
I knew the heat of
Electric wire

Rushing through
Fissured levees,
Rushing through my mouth
Jaw cracking like

Forest floors, eyes
Cracked as dawn
I couldn’t stop it then

Crumpling you
Again
Pulling you in

Smile, it’s a
Trick, just not
Malicious, just a

Harmless little
Trick on yourself
Placed unlabeled on
Unlabeled shelf

We have dammed the river
Blunting our eyes and
Sharpening our knives but

Have starved the land dry
Contemptuous champagne of victory
Becomes ash

Panic to horror
Horror to grief
Nel dolore, mi dispero
Disperato, distruggo