When grief comes and reaches
with long fingers — bone dry and persisting
When grief comes and wails her sorrowful songs—
bringing anguish on the train of her dress
When she comes and looks long knowing looks
in your mirror — carving out your socketed-eyes and making them ghosts
howling…
Give me the muddied boots
The tongue-tied stars
the trembling lips and skin-split wounds
Give me false starts
stuttered steps
and dreams beyond wishing
Do not hide my failures
I have hurt us — let me feel it
and forgive
With this I will do the hard work of hope
…