Bruised Air Hard

/see the bruised air / hard /dark / hard to breathe /and need to breathe /

hard to watch / fear flickers on / more or less / everywhere

/ forget obeying / forget never knew / forget easily go /

remember / how many times / how soon / forced in line /one at a time / one at a time

you/

see/ each naked and knobbly / ask the question of escape / not heard

too loud the animal pulse banging / I am / I am

not ready to / not wanting to / not different than

you /

feel the urge / strong / to take a trembling hand /a nearly dead hand / to clutch hands /

to tell truth that may be lie but should be true / despite lines and lies /to stay  true

Jo Mariner