Burning Fire in the Dirt

Burning Fire in the Dirt

Little drop of rain and I am burning.

Burning? Flame in the sticky wet sky.

I would I could remember

...Or do I?

I swallow wet dirt so that

it may hold me to the Earth

lest I forget what humanity means.

A forest of skeleton trees,

woodpeckers who have forgotten how flight feels

and I rub the dirt on my face so that it made hold me to the Earth.

I fear lies and truth.

This little kid inside me,

were they told lies or truth?

But it doesn't matter because

I cannot choose what gum sticks to what shoe,

Instead, I pour dirt in my eyes so that it may hold me to the Earth

And this soil tastes like fire,

and fear, and regret.

It makes my throat bleed

and it makes my mind melt.

Until words become nothing but air on my tongue

Because if I cannot speak,

I cannot be undone,

I can bury myself in the sand, in the sun

So I swallow the dirt because I believe that I must

I swallow the dirt

Because it's what I can trust.