Esme Writes.

Day by day
She saw with greater clarity what needed to happen.
Doorframes sagged in the yawning gaps of houses now faded
Existing solely in memories or
Photographs.
Broken toothed sentiments
Passed over sharpened
Razor tongues
That flew between them
Neither one ducked.
Or avoided those hurling daggers.
One struck her shoulder
She reacted as if an outstretched index finger
Prodded her,
Not a six inch steel blade,
Merely a nuisance
Nothing more

Like so many overly hot summer evenings
That brings workers in
From fields early,

He collapsed
At her feet as if in heatstroke exhaustion
Mortally wounded
His words
Once cold blue
Poured red from his mouth

Gushed like a hot spring
All steam and core heated life
All too much and
Garishly sudden

She fumbled back a step,
As if the index finger had finally pushed over
Beyond her center of gravity
Beyond her over heating core

Fumbled back and caught,
Then the world toppled,
Spun out of control and it was one of those
Muggy Michigan nights all
Damp and sticking sheets
And tossing
And turning
Even the crickets hum oppressively
Great collapsing weight
Pushing down
Down to the reflective shone and bright night
Backlit blacktop
Head first
And
Deeply darkened
Head first
Tumble
To join his red
Haloed head
Pooled close
Like
A
Secret conversation.