Love Ended 1. Poem by Roy William Gotaas

Cherish pain,

Fold grief in arms.

Ethereal promises no comfort now.

Razor in the heart

Bleed tears.

Never tomorrow again.



Send the sick god packing

While I witness

My own crucifixion.


Guttering candle stub burns behind the eyes but don’t knock:

There’s no-one home anymore.

Empty, only echoes.


Lips move, but no vibration,

All broken strings.

Sleep like the lucky dead, dreamless at last.