Life

Try hard to stay calm,

a nauseating plotline

dangling its arc light in the sky.

I ask for nothing.

The body undulates in waves

as if holding back the world’s assault.

I turn it over to you,

this life full of crisis, this life that can’t let go,

that beholds but never sees the daily slaughter.

So terrible, from what planet does it come?

On dry land fluids run free, unwilling to vanish.

What kind of airflow is sucked into the sky?

Such a bloated gift, such a small universe

garrisoned by grave forces.

Everything’s vanishing, everything’s transparent

but my most secret blood’s made public.

Who threatens me?

Who tallies the undying things

others have hidden in my body,

mightier than dark night?

Tears wing through warm evenings,

pitiless vessels chilling air.

Death covers me.

Death can’t bear the pain that pierces all,

but don’t disturb that lifeless face,

so frightening, so enchanting, as the room darkens.

Daylight was part of me once, now snatched away.

Overhead the orange light glares down at me,

staring at the world’s most terrible element.