Gravel by Sue Blair
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I'm pretty much over it now
But there is one tiny piece of gravel
That I can't get rid of
It's smooth and hard and very very black
Though I thought I was rid of it once
And was very proud of myself
But seeing you happy again
Made me realize that it's still there
Like falling off my bike 
And having a single piece of gravel 
Ground into my palm
Hi, I'm still here
Hurts, doesn't it?

The piece of gravel
Is from the darkest part of my soul
The self-destructive part
That wants to sink my teeth 
Into a live, pulsating neck 
And twist until the life is wrenched out
Even if that life is my own

Whatever neck I choose
The more I twist it
The darker my own soul becomes
Drowning itself in bitterness
Bathing in the thick blue-black blood
Welling up to the skin's surface 
From throttled veins

The piece of gravel says
I hope you never find love again
I hope you die regretting 
The calculated move that you made
I hope you spend every night 
Without warmth
And every day
Without companionship

The piece of gravel spins
Up to the surface every now and then
I examine it, maybe polish it 
And admire its intensity
Then I hurl it as far as I can
Skimming it across the ocean
Of my memories
Hoping it lodges in the crufty seaweed
That is somehow keeping down the rest 
Of the bits of gravel