She’s quietly determined in her sincerity
Tells me she still daydreams of bombs when it’s quiet
Glancing out the nearby window her soft gaze turns inward
Searching for sparrows and cherry blossoms
Amongst muddied puddles and cracked pavement
Bursting with anxious roots scrabbling for new earth
She gathers the corners of herself
And polishes away the sharp edges till she’s smooth and round
Unblemished mercury, she slides her hand into mine
Lays her head softly on my shoulder
Reflecting back what she thinks I want to see
But I know the heavy weight of mercury, its every metallic shade
The sluggish track of its orbit, 58+ days crammed into one
That never seems like it will end
I’ve cradled the darkness between the stars in my palms
And have run inky fingers through tear tracks I didn’t feel fall
After a blitz attack, after a supernova, after heartbreak
I’ll stay close so she can find me when she’s ready