bride

after the sun burst

he said, “it’s funny —

i was going to propose

before the end of the year”

but if i had married young

who would i be?

a child bride

lost

exultant and chaotic

loveless and hiding

stuck like kernels

between his teeth

and when the sky broke again

three years later

i knew i was done

ripping through the hearts

of monosyllabic lovers

done

holding back screams

to protect everyone

but myself