You ache in our hearts

Chaos dressed in yellow and green,
rising to evil as we look at each other,
covered in sins and dust.

i salute our despair, holding
the wind in between my teeth,
feeling more than thinking
because i am ashamed of
this dying splendor.

i shouldn't love you.
i shouldn't.
but this love grew inside of me
like an almond tree
and i am full of you.

i'd like to think history can be
taught with sweetness.
we hunger for truth
but anger is all we have
to offer our sons and daughters.

i won't live to see
what i've always expected.
my only hope is to fertilize
this soil when i'm gone,
when the stars fall from our flag.

karla bardanza