Happy Valentine's Day

“Regret” – 2/14/05
You let the cigarette drop from your lip
And my smile lasted as long as it took
For the sand to burn away.
You shook the seaweed from your corpse
And the gulls fought, raining avian warmth
In their wake, during yours.
You hurled a shriek from your dry tongue,
Hoping to send the salt sting from your skin.
The memory seared.
You tore the sinew binding rhythm
In a vain search for your heart
The color drained from your eyes.
You splashed through the puddle at your feet,
Recalling the dim memory of fluid life.
Swallow, and it drains away.
You filled the void with a silent echo,
Wishes stacking until they showed the rainbow.
Fall to your knees, and worship regret.