lonely and sad merge together they intersect in the height of night entangle like lovers then strangle and smother you, with the strange ways pat her head tell her she’s okay hush, hush baby you’ll be better someday there, there child open your eyes wide come and spend some time at the edge of the earth try it on for size watch the sky give birth let it flood on down you’re no stranger now … watch it dissipate hear the sound it makes lay your clothes down …here you were soaked in fear you were shaking there in the frigid air cup the emptiness hold it to your chest feel your blood splash hard against your fist-shaped heart there is no one around if the pain trickles down take a dip a swim let it all sink in when you rise again you can find your friends waiting at the bank of the river.

-ms tabytha soublette