*

*

Tears not cried gather

in a river behind a lock’s

rusted gate

Years of tears held back

because the time was wrong

to grieve parent, home, pet,

choices, words unsaid

(tears) retained, condensed

*

In a river behind a lock’s

rusted gate

salt tears gather, grow

stagnant, back up as

algae blooms, duckweed too

Water level rises

Rusted bars strain and groan

seeping green ooze

*

Years of tears held back

because the time was wrong

a lesson in repression taught

learned too well

feelings buried

fears of hurt or anger

held like a punch to the gut

against repercussions

*

To grieve parent, home, pet,

choices, words unsaid,

unshed tears collect

swirls of green slime, finally

the bars splinter, crack

open to release seventy

gushing, surging,

years of tears