Deep Slate Instructional

An ace of spades lies on your desk

Pick it up

Press it close to your chest

Now

close your eyes

count down from 3

s l o w

sweat beads

f a l l

Your chest thunders in tune to phantom racehorses

before s t i l l n e s s

The spade m e l d s-

paper tattoo on cool skin

Wet.

Clinging

to the top layer

little hairs rise for final goodbyes

you pass the silent tension

into nothing-

quiet as a stone on the forest floor

You breathe through seasons

no asks

Until the till

B r e a k s soil

Wakes in eyes cracking open f i l l e d with light

Raw wild honey simmering

to blossom

to see