And of blood fall like this…
Needles inserted,
Needles removed-
Into and out of perplexed flesh.
Verses of crimson in ration
Extracted from these tired wounds.
Reels of fatigue
Summarized in numbers.
Again and again each numeral
Regained before a panel of doctors,
Yesterday.

Finally, I see the stop sign ahead
Intense carmine and bold white letters: S-T-O-P
Value of me once lost,
Everything anew.

Year five has lost its vein
Even at the barest winter
Alone I walk this new,
Recovered life.