The empty s p a c e yells

‍

demanding recognition

resistance refuses to notice

and buries the axe

at the root of the past.

‍

Gone like an afternoon fog

it left with them

they had lined the room

uncomfortably kicking at nothing

spilling salty eye water.

A shoulder thrust into my chin

I had something coming—

either karma or sin

I just did not realize

her death was a beginning of ends

unfolding isolation relational termination

‍

When the brain fog lifted

the ocean was empty, daunting

a disoriented churning

a delicate burning

‍

Peaks and valleys of

directionless wind-pushed waves

toppled me over gashing my head

confused and shaken sleep finally won.

‍

Upon waking, the boat was empty, save me.

I stayed off hunger with words and logic

I rowed alone, certain they’d come.

Convinced.

‍

But this empty ocean screams

and I don’t know what to think

melted associations drip like glue

relational corpses buried in unmarked graves

‍

My raft floats alone

stripped to the beams

at least the roof does not leak

as the rest shudders and heaves

‍

Disoriented I pull against the water

toward an inconspicuous mist

oar thunks a hollow hull

as the vast sea rolls on and on

‍

the empty s p a c e yells again.

‍