it just kept coming
crimson
panic
penny aroma

they handed me an armful of
white
clean
folded cotton

Gravity snickered under my body weight
wet
heavy
soggy hopelessness

the sound of suffering pierced the air
sharp
clear
gut wrenching

finally the soul broke free of the shell
stillness
understanding
moving on

my elbows drip with aftermath
viscus
bold
still warm

we couldn’t keep you here
human
boy
Ashur Robinson