the final kiss

I was there once

in that sacred moment

 

salvation dribbled

from the chin of a cherub

into my barbwire tangle

of a soul

 

we were in the blue car

rolling down a mostly black hill

like a drop of warm blood

sliding down a cold, dead thorn

 

the song was a familiar pain:

I knew all of the lyrics

I could never grasp

the emotions they wore

 

she sang along

like a traumatized child;

empty-eyed, tremolo whisper,

frigid mantra �" I was quiet

 

I felt like a sick, stupid dog

 

a tail-wagging dolt

who thinks he’s going

to get a nice long walk

on the dewy green grass

with his best friend,

 

but he’s really going

to get a long hollow needle

filled with his worst enemy

 

darkness hides

behind every holy light

 

there was an explosion

I couldn’t tell if it was

internal or external

 

the brittle moment shattered

like bullet and bone

 

she said something

too quietly to hear

 

I knew this was death

 

I knew no one

would ever love me

again

 

I was okay with that

Reviews

[Kenneth The Poet]

You have easily earned my respect.

[Emily B]

oh, oh

there may be no words

the power of this scene leaves me trembling