she puddles water in her hands
invisible worms
and visible dirt

she barely makes out her face
quite visible pain
her reflection

and takes a sip as near
somebody takes a piss
in the soil

it leaks into the ground
into the well
the river is

you've got it hard, Maybe,
and it's getting worse
but you haven't, yet, Nearly
begun to learn

what a depression is
the way she lives

she cuddles brother on the land
invisible dusk
the day is so long

they barely make out the plains
the tears in her face
his infection

and out there parents say
somebody sends a kiss
craters soil

it leaks into the ground
into their blood
water boils

you've got it hard, Maybe,
and it's getting worse
but you haven't, yet, Nearly
begun to learn

what depression is
the way she lives
the way she lives

she huddles in hut as troops land
bring they love to her world
or come for the clothes

she barely seems covered in
quite visible pain
stone protection

shivers-throws as they get near
signed order lives in bliss
in a big house

she's sinks to the ground
forced to their arms
her parents dead

you've got it hard, Maybe,
and it's getting worse
but you haven't, yet, Nearly
begun to learn

what depression is
the way she lives
the way she lives

the way she lives

so young and old
the way she dies
barely more then bone
covered in flies

her brother
crawled the desert
a baby
separated

by kindgom swords
imperial scars
and tribal wars
remapping zones
raping lives
raping land
gripping flags
dripping hands

she puddles water in her hands
invisible worms
and visible dirt...

© John alan Fessel