wither

when the heat on our backs becomes too much

when our spines feel too brittle to stay straight

and the bones in our wrists begin to splinter

from carrying the burdens we bear

some days I like to dissolve

they tell us to fight

to rage against the dark and chase the dawn 

but once the weakness has entered my bloodstream

I become a puppet with a noose around my neck

without the strength to scream

other days I run to the world

fingernails scrabbling for love, wild eyes 

heaving, open mouthed sobs

bloodied knuckles, bitten 

today I cannot take flight so I fall

lips sealed tight to keep in the frost or the fire

I don't know if I am melting or freezing

but the helplessness does not discriminate