Fighting Tears

pearls are falling as you speak

Mother,

pearls are falling as you speak

much too quickly for me to sweep

much too quickly for me to keep

from shattering silently against the ground -

but I can hear their sound.

iridescent splatter after splatter,

Mother

iridescent splatter after splatter,

they splash when I utter a fighting word

they splash against my verbal sword

with a delicacy so easily unheard -

but to slash a pearl would be absurd.

pearls are falling as you speak,

Mother,

pearls are falling as you speak

they collect at my feet as our red eyes meet

they collect at my feet and make me entreat

that no more should be lost in my trivial heat -

today I pause,

and they mark my defeat.