And I could not follow your wishes, but I know
If they assuaged you,
It would not be crying in this dark, your sorrow

It would not be crying so


That my own heart drifts and cries, having no death
Because of the darkness
Having only your grief under my mouth
Because of the darkness
-Larkin, Deep Analysis


This life is lit with a dark intensity
A dying candle that frays
With the stars’ light
But lives within the sun’s,


Dying in a glass, darkly,
Ink bleeding, bruises plastered
Naked skin prominent in naked hours
Fragile, and withered,
Porcelain glass

Sharp laughter
Edged tight and apathetic
Cuts deeper under my fingers, and
The earth she bleeds, dark red clay beneath my feet
Staining the trees
Staining the paper
Forever tainting memories
Of burning flame
Burning only like water

Dripping like wax and ash,
Feelings pasted and sold
Sweat and soot steal away breath
Garnered and collected like a stranglehold
Holding only depth

Solid and taut it moves
Living underneath me,
Tries and proves
To confound like blue woods

Has escaped through an open window sill
By love and warmth and its own
Hap hazardous free will