my heart strains to speak
in thunder
but no one bothers to listen
so I bury the sound—
deep down in my ribs
where hurricanes grow teeth

what if the bitter road
i’ve hobbled down
means nothing
for the miles
still ahead

tucked into shadow
watching roman candles
kiss sky
i burn like static
in periphery
i shimmer like a whisper
no one listens for
like a hymn
no one stays to finish

unseen
unheard

not
one
flinch
when i
open
my
mouth

a bloom crushed
under eyes
that laugh at
something
i’ll never
understand

careless
care less

these eyes see
a world smeared with
maybe
and almost
and
i
still
hear
that
hurricane
heart–

smother it

are we
buried
in shit
clawing for
breath
in a graveyard
that forgot
to die

composted in
discarded needles
that cry out
from roots
tangled in rot
hoping (in vain)
that something green
can still grow

if you knew
what i’d say
if you knew
the cost
of words i
swallowed
to keep peace
with ghosts

if i had
one day
to live
no fear
i’d burn down the damn rules
and speak–
in thunder

if i could be free
to breathe
without apology

would you listen
or would you
flinch