After The Well of Grief*

suffocating

on the bottom

of David’s Well

frozen in this haunting prism

of others’ glimmering wishes

three small round coins tarnish my palm

weight too heavy to carry up

to light and breath

back to a pretend belonging

that isn’t mine

* Whyte, David: “The Well of Grief,” from “River Flow – New & Selected Poems, 1984 – 2007,” published by Many Rivers Press, 2007, copyright by David Whyte, 2007