Fallout
Nobody ever tells you about
the collateral damage of a nuclear relationship
the people caught in the fallout
contaminated by our black rain.
How did we not know
the levels of toxicity in the air
burning us up from the inside-out?
As we walked hand in hand, oblivious
we left our Geiger counters at home.
Tick-tick-tick-tick-tick.
People we once knew now exist only
as shadow versions of themselves
seared into our brittle bones
their outlines are visible
but we can’t see their insides
their burned-out pinks and reds.
They say that the hurt will decay exponentially
we’ll lose it like deciduous teeth
while we wait out our half-life in shelters
secretly doubting the halving thickness.
In the aftermath
we measure our heartbreak in roentgens
wandering our personal wastelands
toxic ash in our mouths
hearts in decay.
