e r o d e

exhume it from the depths

disinter the coffin it’s buried in

splay the bones into a verse

call it as it is

unfurl the sails bound to it

tack the bow into the wind

batten down the hatches

capsized in my own skin

tighten chains around it

heave it overboard

throw a line into the void

fish it up to shore

brine and wrap it nicely

tie a knot from end to end

tuck it neatly in the hull

pound until it’s gone again

‘till the earthquakes of my soul

shake the pieces back to shape

bulging detritus take their form

longing to escape

blast it with the hatchet

cleave it till it cracks

hacking at the knots

slash until it busts in half

kerosene the ring

flick a match into the pit

light it up as signals rise

watch the splinters spit

consuming blistered bits

suck the ashes in

scorching words before they exit

vaporized as they begin

smoke spirals smoldering lungs

converged behind protective panes

choking out divulgence

engulfing words that burn in vain

until smothered whispers echo

decibels loud enough to break

shattering a seal long past fractured

dismembering silence in its wake

could i hemorrhage

out in words

can i finally put this down

or will i cauterize my voice

until

i

slowly

drown