through lonely cold winters
as I splintered
black nights unraveled
little pieces of gravel
crushed together
turned stone
Man chiseled me down
to the bone
and still….

I held on
in marmalade autumn
as red and golden leaves
fall to the bottom
and man tramps
a scoundrel in tan pants
even then….

I held on
as a song on replay
melting as
a sunset on fire
till I turned
to liquid ****
man poured straight
from the tube

as I lay in a puddle
at his feet
I mustered the strength
to retreat