one requited day

this, it isn't yours to keep
just to hold, for now
to strain against its weight.

yes, things will crack and buckle
the facade will reveal its meat

tender and exposed to disease
the tissue will rot
the rot, debride


what surfaces, its yours to keep
with scars, and antibodies
and weightless sleep

yet, on down the line you'll see other's
who are cracking, hear their buckling
become labored breath

though their virus un-contagious
your scars will ache
their antibodies, breed

remember then, to tell
each gaunt and pallored face
that every fragile sinew broken
was replaced
and at twice the fee



wb