Undertow

Your arsenal never seemed so weak 
when you showed up  after countless weeks
we didn't speak
you were living in the moment
Why does this tunnel light
never seem to close?
it leads me down this shadow path
I never even asked
about that overdose.

I twist I trip to intervene
come in between
now you're laying low
You're back to slipping suits
up your sleeve 
wondering if you can breathe
wandering in this undertow
a scramble of need,
of ramble and bleed
of come and go.
I watched you leave
and couldn't believe
that I said no.

I bet on never being missed
swam alone into the ocean
dissolution into mist
atonement for no one

You came home pale
silent and grey eyed
you're a basilisk stare
of violence and failure
Unprepared 
for what I found inside
and didn't want to know.

You faded away
became paint became frame
now I'm swimming in your ocean
You faded away
like stains or like rain
like words best left unspoken.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2021

Poem

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