Mayhem's Bones

© Christina P. Davis

now and then the

skeletons

come out to play

they rise from

unmade beds

and creep around my head

bringing Mayhem with them

the iceberg tips

and my illusion of togetherness

evaporates

as they run amok

with much stomping and screaming

in a forgotten breath

asylum bones

frantically twist and

distort trust

whispering of hushed memories

I become an empty saint

full of sin

falling dramatically

to the bottom of

…everything

nothing is as it seems

so I travel

beyond planets

beyond the moon

striking heaven

with a clenched fist

angry at the aching

that cuts

like a serrated blade

…cold, heartless

I chase cadaverous bones

around the room

until I find myself

crumpled

on the floor

next to yesterday's laundry

Mayhem soothes me

with her tears and murmurs

softly falling against my skin

rising, I wipe away

haunting recollections

that left me cold

now I calm

the clacking bones

beckoning them to silence

and I safely tuck them

back in bed

with a misplaced

lullaby