Floating weightless

In the cool, night sky

My lengthy inventory

Of concern

Put to bed

For this one day

When I feel them all around me

Hiding in the clouds

“They’re here again,”

I whisper hoarsely to myself

My skin begins to crawl

In welcome

I’ve known their touch before

My mouth is wide and gaping

My hands grasping wildly

For some solidity

Some purchase

Then they are on me

And there is nothing I can do

They are liquid ebony

Both in body and in soul

As I sink

Into their quicksand

I feel their skin

Become my own

Wrapped in this airless shroud

My lonely, silent scream

Is shoved back down my throat

Directed deep inside

A rant of condemnation

To taunt myself forever

Somewhere in my dark heart

I must have wanted this

What other reason

Could there be

For allowing it to happen?

They gather up

The tiny piece of me

That they need

For their collection

They’ll be back.