Faded cluster

of weeks and days

trundled by

so quickly

already 

the magic

the enchantment

has crept, hands and knees tied

bound, cold and ashamed

into the space behind the wallpaper

beaten and bundled like a wet cat

my sometimes feline eyes cast themselves down

to hide their intensity

trying not to scald you

with their euphony, with their cacophony

soaking wet,

and still the fire sings--corrosive, melting heat

i have armed myself for retreat

even before taking a single true step forward

disenchantment eats, corroding the paths of my brain

little warped worm tunnels twisting under rotted earth

smell of decomposing leaves and life-death of the soil

breaks into my calloused fingers

(little alchemist's heart, you said, and I smiled)

perhaps you are too quiet
too steady
too detached

perhaps I am too full of darkness
made in the storm

perhaps this is simply the clear light of day

breaking through the clouds--

and perhaps I should surrender

perhaps I should run

(perhaps)

the word repeated, over and over,

turned like a seashell in my hands

crenelated into sand

until there is nothingleft

but nothingness—itself—is a thing,

a thing less alive than death

but a thing that grapples

meaningless

nonetheless

and such nonsense

descends.

and my eyes peel back to

limitless depth—

I creep out

to kiss the mud at night

licking leaves of poisonous plants

while you dream your guilty sleep
i bite your ear lobe, lie awake--trapped.
if i could taste boredom, i would be tasting it now.
(your guilty sleep)

I can't stop running

my inertia, momentum--

carrying so much fire

(heaps of sodden, rotted wood—and flames—burning still under pouring raindrops)

waves enwombed in thunderstorms,

breaking hard in my chest

dawning with the light

and mockingbirds in the morning air,

euphony and cacophony--

grey mourning air

turning to black. 

So I sit quietly,

comfortingly alone

words building their bridges

wondering, dissecting, eating

leaves and maybes and bird tongues

with my eyes--

let's just leave it at that.

(perhaps)