ready for the end but

too weak to bring it through

we fight ourselves toothless and repeating

through unending settings

and risings of one angry red

star

the clouds begin to pull themselves

out of the flat sky and crawl

overland toward us

I become small and small

compressing pumps filters repositories

cables and transformer

until the longing clinging like a shadow

is left nothing to hold

and I slip through its fingers

knife