young boy feels pain—a bee sting, a

stubbed toe, a mean older brother

—feels it like a throbbing fire

that no struggle can blunt

eyes glazed with tears

looks up at father

Strong, Gentle, Hushes his son.

He knows

This moment of pain will pass—he’s

been through his share.

Bandage, kiss on the forehead,

lullaby, goodnight.

Returns to his room, removes his clothes. dark, red blisters.

Walks… until he reaches fire

lies down

tears leak down each temple into his scalp

he looks up

sink deep, and deep again.

so close. closing in—it’s all closing

in

on my breath (sputtering), the

water.

Flushes through my weary vocal cords, hushes my larynx, and hums a lullaby of respite to my alveoli;

gently blows out that last bit of life, basic and archaic, that burned and breathed within me.