we take place
take our places
migrate just out of reach
though we don’t dig,
we are buried
up to our chests
in silence
our chests silent
for a moment
and we gain our breath
holding it against
our skin
a barrier
that moves like sorrow
collapses
revives and
collapses again
forget our cardinal
twining
push out past the pull
and resettle
our weakened hearts