For Your Love (when it isn't there)

My hope scatters like sawdust

from the blade. Walk backwards,

collect every grain of sand.

This is for your soul, when the levee

finally broke. It broke out of spite for

your flesh stopping up the fractures.

For your backbends with bricks heavy

in your chest. Your sleepy-eyed smile

wars. For your too hard closed fists.

And your open temper. Your guardrails,

finger-tipping the scales. For your full

heart and your empty mouth.

For your love, when it isn't there.