predawn

lavender gray
haze
this
morning mist
beckons me

fold me
into your damp
embrace
hide me
for these moments
in the mantle
of obscurity

hold me
hushed

and cool

hurry not
the day
break

burden

tears sting my eyes
yet refuse to fall
through no fault of my own

this pain

this pain is anchored
heavy and deep

it will not
be washed away

portrait

eyes wide
with the slightest
tremble
in her hands
she cradles
his venom
as if it were
a gift

scattered

I protect myself
with disarray
and hide behind
this chaos
I've collected.

No one can really reach me.

I have to confess
at times,
I'm hard-pressed
to even find
myself.