THE ROAD

The post apocalyptic ash runs down my shower curtain

Staining the undersides of my toenails 

And through the holes in my footwear I am reminded of the end of posterity 

Familial bonds decayed from disinterest and egotism 

I condemn myself 

I condemn myself

I create myself 

I condemn myself 

Walking and breathing

Then stoping and heaving

Falling and leaning 

Only to wipe away my face;

Streaming

Bonded by our pinky fingers 

We forged a bond that could only be broken by the final temptress

The black veil

And she came far too early 

Taking you slowly she taunts my dried eyes 

I tuck the white handkerchief away

Not yet 

The washcloth tied around my Adam's apple isn't much more than empty promises 

I broke the small ones

And the big ones caved that much easier

Apologies reverberate in my skull 

But easily deflect of yours

And the sharp edges are sending the mash-up out my ears 

It's no wonder hearing evades me 

Trees won't fall on you unless you let them 

That's just the statistics

But if they do, you'll see the eulogy of the passers by 

Etched into their bark 

And I am hoping I'll find yours 

Reading;

"Walk to stay away, stay away from the ranks of the breathing dead"

And so my feet bleed 

But at least I am not only breathing 

-Special thanks to Cormac McCarthy for the basis and title of this poem.