my heart beats like a

trapped and dying animal

like a re-opened wound

or soft fresh scab

it aches with truth

trying to escape

looking for a fruitful branch

a wise old tree

or mothering

my heart bleeds itself open

dripping small red dots

that smell like

the frozen biting wind

it pulsates raw knowing

splatterings of shut valves

plugged ducts

a brokenness

only some know

my heart carries me

it reminds me

it hears me

and it sees me

in a dark way

full and red and bursting

3/17/16