Hurt The Same
Stuttering heaves of prickling breaths
the wind I swallowed is laughing at me
or is it the oxygen it boasts that mocks the lungs that crave
ammunition, cogent, to birth veristic life?
Whatever it is, I’m past caring
yet the people who pretend they are stalk my feet
their mouths speak of giving up the search
but they forget that I’m dead, not deaf, not blind
mindful of the gazes tracing the lines of a corpse
steps following steps on ceaseless trails
spears and crossbows in hand, hunting wild geese
quiet desperation louder than the forest we’re in
hunger crawling at the flesh beneath our skins
I know you’re tired, and I am too
The chains tethering us to each other
some ingot, some forged
cage our necks and seal our fates
they hurt the same, hurt the same
So when we reach that cliff we knew was coming
I’ll feign surprise at the “told you so”
slug the bile of regret and rue
spew the ire in irony
and curse myself for the curse you’re in
empty apologies for empty promises
you wish I’m sorry but I never am
not enough to turn back
and say goodbye to that buoyant dream
the thought of which became a dream
not enough to make the leap to ebullient seas
and drown in the red of your wounds
that taste black cherry with cuts of my own
Soles glued to the fickle quicksand they call time,
there is the painting of swollen eyes tattooed on mine
paralyzed,
I try to enounce the pain I’m in
except my tongue becomes treacle,
and moulds words I can’t recognize, don’t mean to say
but I know that they hurt the same, hurt the same.
Copyright © Hiba Junaid | Year Posted 2025
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