“cherry” today

I give myself

permission to slip

“cherry” today

in a line

that has nil

to do with cherries,

because I told you.

I told you

a thousand times

today,

you’re gone,

because,

I mean,

and still-

Can’t.

I cannot walk

the line today,

because letters

are jangled

legs and ominous

lights and the rest

is all,

and broken.

I’m allowed

to think

of googly eyes

in terms of pain,

because it is

the only proof

I am still

there and not here

where I should

be.

We prayed in,

in short sleeves,

in lockdowns,

and while they

lowered you down

in soil, she,

my girl, 

with soiled soles,

stepped all over

my prayer.