black coffee
matches the thoughts
swirling
within my head
the bitter acidity
travels down
my blood lined
esophagus
where it sits
with all the
bile soaked regrets

the sun
is too goddamned bright
the air too thick
with lackadaisical
memories
but even though
her name
is still branded
on my flesh
the skin
is healing unevenly

i couldn’t control
not being enough
couldn’t make her see
the wait
was worth the anguish
but i can
rope the words
into a semblance
of rationality
to drive away
the mournful crooning

one cup of coffee
one line of pain
one step forward
one unwelcome day
one more stanza
one more chapter
one unlocked door
one more hope
one last prayer
even though
there is no more us