“It’s too late to correct it,” said the Red Queen: “when you’ve once said a thing, that fixes it, and you must take the consequences.”

~ Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There

 

 

The heart is wrenched with fingers of ache that wrap

slowly around the chest and grip it tight.

The day wavers with heat that calls sweetly to the mind

trapped within the body tied to night.

The wind blows softly and slips across the face like a kiss

pulling tears from deep to blur the sight.

The wall is hard against the back and pulls on cloth and skin

as knees buckle and the body starts to slide.

The cement here is chilled as it presses hard against the cheek

while soaking up the endless sighs.

The tears of longing fade away and dry to lines of salt

as crystal rivers without delight.

The body curls and shivers to mask the throbbing wrench of hurt

reminding of the hours until light.

The wake of fear is widened while this terrible feeling lasts

if only for this one more night.