Have you ever
Experienced pain
That barely
Scratches
The surface

Of cracks inside
Unnoticed
Which can rarely
Even be
Fixed

In the middle
Of marathon years
Where days
And nights
Grow changeless

Sleeping
For longest seconds
Just to realize
You’re screaming
Awake?

Wired
In restless chains
Of a mind
Tied down
With faces

On a sea
Of empty answers
That anchors
Dreams
Like boats

Filling
Each time we crash
From tears
Which drown
Our chances

Coasting
Shores of memory
Too close
To the rocks
Once rough.

Flattened
By hungry waves
Eating
Away at
Jetties

Dulled
As natural
Barriers
Erode from
Raging tides

Rising now
With hate
Toward waters
Black
And dangerous

Swollen
While they ripple
To capsize
Ships
Still whole

Claiming
Wild surf
Is the reason
All rafts
Plummet

Into oceans
Dark as yesterday
When the depths
Of hurt
Call out

Seeping
Through this
Space
Which breaches
Faulty senses

Bewildered
By such fissures
As the water
Flows
Through hulls

And wrecks
Whatever lasts
During moments
Not quite
Peaceful

As the evening
Falls to ruin
Knowing fear
Can never
Sail

What vessel
Rife with holes
Floats
Atop this
Feeling

That disaster
Brings us
Closure
Even though
Forever sinks.

– J. Pigno