Cross-Stitch

needle and thread
punctuating fibres of linen
taut, release
another silky drop of colour
cross-stitched into white oblivion
as your voice
wavering so slightly
taut, release
says your heart is wide open
to rust, wounded in the
roaring wind
the cadences in your stories
are marked with
x's
blue, red, purple, green
my dear, take this embroidery
into your hands
what do you see?
thread by thread
i pull away the bleeding colours
of your heart's shroud
and stitch them
taut, release
into this veil of prayers
all our own