These days

I cannot budge free

From the closed vise of grief

From the stone I’ve crawled under

Braced for impact in the dark

–

Love songs and sonnets  

Are scrubbed clean from the heart

And only soothing hymns

Visit now and then

–

These days I’m far away

Alone and burning to ring out

For other sunken hearts

Overcome by dead weight

–

While night skies rage

In the east and west,

Piling on scorched earth

Bidding precious dreams goodnight