Bruised Reed

Hollow face pressing

desperate upon stones

built by Herod.

Grief lines penetrating

fragile bones,

tear stains etching cold outlines.

Bruise reed,

shivering upon the wall,

cast your wound

into the sea’s deepest part,

salve in its forgiving depths.

Justice slept in your seed

and awoke

to plane the unequal

surface square.

~bsw