broken but still growing

the bravery seemed contagious
as we stood atop the tombstones
and screamed at the stars

we sacrificed all we could
but we could barely run
with our boots flooded with whiskey

I heard the screams
and the breaking of bottles
along the bloodred horizon

all the flags were but burning silhouettes
as a child, I could smell the smoke
from the dinner table

I was envious of the darkness
it had nothing to hide, yet hid everything
so I crawled through the marsh
following silver streams in the air
running through streets
and then falling to my knees
beating the pavement with my fists
ripping, tearing skin
is this how we were meant to live?