Tears rake their gnarly claws
down the hills of our cheeks
birthed by tangled emotions
locked inside
the cage of our ribs.
Scraping up our throats
Up our eyes
Up our souls.

The saltwater beads
polluted with despair
drip from lashes
Onto journal pages
Into the carpet
Down our skin.

Liquid fire
carving a scalding path
down the plains
of our waterlogged faces.
They snake across our noses
leaving flames in their wake.
The tears trace rivers
like a finger down a map
They dissolve like raindrops
on sun-warmed pavement.

No eye can thrive completely dry
so why does shame bite
our bleeding hearts
When a pair of clear eyes
Sees our swimming ones?

Madison Kanagy

Madison Kanagy is a homeschooled writer based in Pennsylvania where she enjoys writing poetry and short stories. She plans to someday publish books that appeal to young generations and promote biblical values and authenticity. Madison adores Jesus, and her biggest goal is to reflect His holy character every day.