My stomach sinks

and my bones go cold

as I see I’m passing by

the place in space

where lovers meet

but only for goodbye.

It’s dark in there

I catch the whiffs

of salt thrown on a wound,

of burning toast

a scratchy throat

and socks without a two.

It’s where our dogs

refuse to lay

and sunshine cannot go

it’s turpentine

not-my-child’s whine

a mitten lost in snow.

I dare not breath

I tiptoe here

in hopes of passing by

but the magnet pulls

me by my belt

and just like you

I cry.

Image: Discomfort, Guiga, Digital,2019