Poem: Here Lies the Summer

I guess I had to die

To lay it all to rest

An unmarked grave of yesterdays

Memories scattered

Like wildflowers

Around my wounded hopes

Pens slicing into dark thoughts

Disguised as pretty poetry

Set to the tone

Of hopeful and healing

I guess I have to cease

For the words to die as well

That stabs through me at odd times

Opening wounds and lancing boils

In an attempt to heal

Something I didn’t break

Hurled like insults

On a cloud of fake concern

A cruel reminder

That I can’t take a positive turn

Your words burn through skin

Thin from the war

I rather be buried under sarcasm

Then, repeat them in the mirror

Reopening the chasm

I guess when I depart

The voices might stop

I hope

From its endless tirade

Of remembered slurs

Spoken out of turn

With pleadings dried on my tongue

From trying just to hold on

I hope in the end

I’ll go out with such grace

Without the blood of the past

Smeared on my face

I guess when I perish

I might get the chance to grieve

In silence

For once

For everything

I once loved

And lost so dear

By employing my voice

And losing all trust

So that maybe in the end

With the final push of earth

Beneath my weary feet

My dust will learn to settle

And I’ll learn to speak