lightning, then glass

my mind is a beach with a cave
on the beach, there were many battles
for now,
it mostly knows peace
and i know where to walk
to avoid the land mines
and i know where to wait
for the lost bottles

and i read the messages
the ideas and poetry
this has always been the way
they come to me

on this beach, there is also a cave
it’s very dark and very deep
it’s where i play
before a few
waited at the entrance
to see what gems and creatures
come out
but it’s too dark and deep
to ever be joined

i’ve had a few though
that walked along the beach with me
and I made signs for the mines
and we’re careful together

one day, someone came
he had his own land mines
and he had his own cave
so he was much more brave

and he was a storm
of wind, and rain,
lightning and electricity
it struck me
it struck the beach
where it touched
it left glass

but I didn’t care
as we danced
it was violent
it was passion
it was a flash
that would last

he came and then he left
but the soft sand 
now held broken glass
now hid broken glass

he left and I was left
i walked barefoot
the shards embracing me
the cuts the way I bleed
to keep the memories

in a tantrum
i would roll in the sand
until glass covered me
from head to hands to feet
and I’d wade out to the ocean
so the water could sting
and my body could recall
the touch of lightning

then one day
a basket washed up
and all the shards of glass
I gathered
I crafted a mosaic
placing each piece  
cost more blood
but it was the last
a mosaic of blood and glass
hung in the back
of the cave
I visit it most days

but the beach
is mostly clean
except for the lost bottles
and land mines