when someone leaves your heart
in the dirt
people tell you
there are worse things than being alone
that loneliness
can be beaten as easily
as a light fever
sweat off or iced away
people tell you not to care
as if it is as easy as deciding
not to feel that dirt
clinging to your heart
never fully washed off
a reminder of a hand you once held
a hand that fought off
that fever
of loneliness
