War Torn

Clay red caterpillar scar crawls across a chest

camouflage for



white heat perforated heart

loosely stitched

still oozing screams and nightmares

it’s seared Morse code SOS gone dark

radio silence

numb to pain but also to joy

no pulse of empathy to reach into your heart

its rhythm of compassion interrupted so completely

the possibility of human connection no longer exists.