RATTLE
RACHANA HEGDE
I rattle apart sinking into a grey the color of milk
the black of a bullet striking my forehead in the smoke, a man stills my
heart into a burst flame like a split pomegranate heaving open in daylight.
this is the faith of a girl gentled by her fears
the heaviness of death & the syrup coating my limbs
an overcast sky kisses my throat
I have difficulty remembering the truth
what happened that morning or the pebbles rattling inside my mouth.
how to stop falling through openings hollow space bleeding down my front.
I swallowed the clouds but where is the guarantee god heard my prayers?
there isn’t enough blood to wash the wet from my hair
I will die guiding you here not knowing where the memory ends
∘∘∘