languishing in the mossed bottom
the darkened well constricts
fat teardrops lifting a body
purple-bruised and splinter-boned

thrown into the rusted-out barrel
pennies of goodwill and fortune
litter hot-iron burns across her skin
rope splintering in spiraling danger

screams resound in the dank pit
begging to past gods of ignorance
useless tears persist in their cascading
pushing eyes into acidic sun-bleached light

muddled air crashes through her nostrils
perfumed with spring’s saccharine bliss
gagging at the taste of salt on her lips
she ponders the thicketed pathway beyond