grief accumulates
marbles in a leather bag
cat eyes, shooters, steel

dust in the corner
stones in the heart

feathers on the camel’s back

it comes in storms, in waves, in small winds
in large winds
in stone walls

you lean against it
it leans against you

you carry a village on your back
a steep village
a mountain of masonry
dense & crowded houses

all the people
all the other animals

heavy woven rugs
they weigh you down
their beautiful, mysterious patterns
ancient colors
signifying …

the colors of rain
cold rain in the body
heavy and dark

you wake with tears on your face
a wet and silent pillow

nothing can hold it
not dreams, not the body, not