Tabitha

Tabitha,

I have searched, endlessly -
for as many synonyms for Taxidermy
as there are people
other than you
who make me wish I stuffed myself,

and degutted, emptied out
everything entirely for the cover-girl
of benzodiazepines pill bottles.

This is how we survive,
slowing numbing to the trail
of what's left. The alcohol goes down quicker
too -

But, still, couldn't help
passing through our park during an evening walk,

to watch the lake where we swam inside daylight
praying to God the ranger wouldn't catch us.

Those black trees once overhanging, now spread across sunset,
how they remind me of your wet hair stuck to my burnt chest!