this bitterness
like the flavour of the rind
mixed in salt
then absolved with too much rum
a single sip surrounds me
tears are far too valuable
I hold them all in
away from your unwelcome vision
it's an ocean and I'm a teacup
I'm drowning in the middle of the street
I can't stop thinking
and it's tearing me dry
like a painting
shading in red and orange
while trying to hold the sea
fireflies float above
dipping in their fragile tongues
drinking in new light
I must taste like golden honey
for such a glow
sand trickles down my cheeks
dissolving the final traces of my lies
you never knew
I swallow it all like two breaths
with wet and heavy lungs