Unsaved (Poetry)

I dreamed a poem in the sky
it fell as acid rain
words ate through walls of memory
and freed the hurt again.

The verses spread — like puddles lay
reflecting broken cloud
and all the heartache in the world
cried steadily out loud.

The city pavements grew awash
and dark each dripping leaf
the flesh of building bubbled thin
their share of bottled grief

And through the streets drowned lovers sailed
immune to wounds so old
their blood long-frozen in their veins
and all their stories told.

The swollen language raised its flood
in torrents fierce and deep
waves tugged at logic, worried faith
and infiltrated sleep

And love that dreamed along with me
let night its options sift
’til in a pale and stricken dawn
hope found its child adrift.

Then rescue was the only rhyme
could make the poem whole
the rhythm like the song of oars
to soothe the seasick soul

And as the waters calmed to silk
an echo floated clear
rolled the sky from edge to edge
the mountain’s peak loomed near

And listening, its snow untrod —
a vast unwritten page
of all those poems never born
and no one fought to save.