Trapeze

My sadness quakes upon the shore of being

these perforated edges

torn 

piece by piece

worn

from wearing smiles

and running from death

Lessons circulate above my head

teaching first the rudiments of a day

the A, B, C

of me

this is were I'm at

heavy bludgeons make their blow

as lead weights

they hold me in a state of fear

which defines my speech

defines my walk

defines my heart

in longing

i am performing now

the high trapeze

somersaulting into a perfect pirouette 

of guilt

The child inside of me

is quaking too

for she knows sorrow long and true

she has worn all of its guises

from time

to time

she smiles

then forgets again

her truth

Where my heart roams free is guarded by these thorny spires

the silent retreat lies hidden from view

hidden from its own reflection

I lay down my head upon the seat of love

to guide me to the river

i call truth

lead me down

lay me softly

tread here lightly

i am as brittle as a cuttlefish bone

as a shard of light

retracts

into the spaces in between

i sleep away

the pain with a bow