shattering
ovenbird
Our
bodies
are
broken
–mine
playing
host
to
rapidly replicating viruses
as
yet
unknown
to
science
,
yours
torn
apart
at
the
shoulder
by
some
beast
that
is
all
claws
and
no
compassion
.
I
struggle
to
take
a
breath
,
you
struggle
to
sit
upright
,
we
both
close
our
eyes
as
if
pain
is
something
you
see
,
and
can
be
eliminated
with
darkness
.
The
hospital
beds
we
occupy
are
only
a
foot
apart
but
neither
of
us
has
the
strength
to
traverse
the
small
distance
between
them
.
And
yet
I
can
reach
out
my
hand
and
you
can
reach
out
yours
into
that
void
between
the
private realms
of
our
shattering.
We
find
each
other
’s
fingers
and
let
them
entwine.
There
is
no
comfort
greater
than
this
–your
hand
finding
mine
and
my
hand
finding
yours
when
we
both
thought
there
was
nothing
left
in
this
world
but
suffering
.
250721
what's it to you?
who
go
blather
from