Smoke Signals

I’ve hollow bones
Weakened by the sun, eroded by the rain
I’ve a loaded gun that I’ve grown too frail to raise

No less the martyrdom than the wolf in sheep’s clothing
I’ve become my own worst enemy
Counting the heartbeats between tears and screams
As I set myself ablaze and wait patiently for you to extinguish me

Yet, these days, you almost never do
With each passerby, I offer the parts of me kept reserved for you

           p i e c e s

                     p i e c e s

                               p i e c e s

Until there is nothing beautiful of me left
And the rain is free to caress my bones into the finest of forgotten dust