Hope Gets a Bad Rap

Hope is dead

she licked the salt 

running down the wood

what's in your head

is not her fault

She'd go if she could

this rope's tight

around her wrists

is it supposed to hurt?

her head's light

can't feel her fists

she said it's in the dirt

blackened nails

chipped, peeling paint

her body's so soft

singing whales

a last refrain

you finally got off