Cover To Cover

These Wounds

erin

I’m hurting
afraid, that I’ve broken something.
that I’ve talked, wrote, and thunk myself
halfway into hurt
halfway,
only halfway
out of love.

We were in love, together
unabashed, passionate, difficult, caring
secure
love
Papercuts, scrapes, and aches at times
but worthwhile, comforting, healing
together

I miss her, somedays
the good days? the hard ones?
when I just want it back

But, my love is tainted today
this break, my decisions, the talking
brings our pains to the skin
over and over and over
and these red sores now demand some focus
flaring, when we talk

I’m stuck, wondering
these lovely wounds
were they always here?
internal bleeding, long hidden
discovered under careful inspectioin
surgical thoughts, careful conversation
psychosomatic?
manufactured, from worried repetition
created, not found?
from a focus on the worst for weeks
fantom pains?
hurt from loss, long since healed
changes and growth, both
each different
shock myself out, forget
and try again?

when we talk, my heart beats for you
every beat, love in my veins
but my sores throb, too
the pain burns, hot enough to sting
but not maim

can’t keep going,
not ready to stop


Here I sit
symptoms clear, pain present
no diagnosis
and no hope for treatment, yet

halfway hurt
halfway cleansed
halfway head over heels, still
and halfway out of love. ◼︎