Earth

The ground was warm

You pressed your palms upon the earth

hands retracted and with them dirt

Touching your face, a new experience

I looked on in silence, clouded by what I was seeing–

your hands made circles in the soil

Mud formed from the tears you wept

bearing witness, I would not forget

The dam in your heart gave way

flooding your eyes,

and the land surrounding

awash with water,

you kneeled there trembling

I moved towards you, but was held

a force on my chest, I could not quell

The brine of the ocean,

much like your skin

a slow surrender,

your soundless descension