Grief: after the death of Love

Unwanted
Like the broken chips settled to the bottom of the bag
a remnant of something
    that was once valued
they're no longer worth reaching for

Unstable

Like the ground underfoot

Terra Firma, constantly reliable

   the foundation of everything

until the earthquake

rips away what once felt solid

    leaving no point of reliable reference

Desperate

Like diving into the deep end

    to pick up pennies tossed there

how many can you get?

    one, two, three, four ... probably one more

but your breath's suddenly gone

    and you're still twelve feet down

frantic, clawing the water

    there's not enough traction to move quickly up

  you're where you don't belong

    and you have to escape

the panic hangs on even 

    when you're back on solid ground

Incomplete

Like an infant wailing for mom

    who's only just gone to the grocery store

    a ten minute trip for mom

but an infant's eternity, anticipating

    an isolation that may never end