chances are we will sink quietly back
into oblivion without a ripple 
we will go back into the face 
down through the mortars as though it hadn’t happened 

earth: I’ll remember you 
you were the mother you made pain 
I’ll grind my thorax against you for the last time 
and put my hand on you again to comfort you 

sky: could we forget? 
we were the same as you were 
we couldn’t wait to get back sleeping 
we’d have done anything to be sleeping

and trees angels for being thrust up here 
and stones for cracking in my bare hands 
because you foreknew 
there was no vengeance for being here

when we were flesh we were eaten 
when we were metal we were burned back 
there was no death anywhere but now 
when we were men when we became it