“Words of Promise” digital watercolor 2019 d. byrne

Walking Dead

Today lurched past me again.
I had to pretend I was dead
or it might feast on me
just like it always does
slowly eating me inside out.

But hope offered her morning
come-hither, sleepy-eyed smiling
to tempt me; to hide me
from the stumbling, mindless,
relentless monstrosity.

She whispered words of promise
If only, if only you could -
you could find me again.
You knew who I was once
nights when you held me close to you.

But Hope’s eyes will tire and close
and today will strengthen until
It will find us hiding,
and burst upon our tryst,
exposing her imperfections.

It will see her as I should
a fancy never fastened
a daydream with no pulse
a wish without a heart
some thing today will soon devour.

Copyright 2018 Daniel Byrne