***

The Return

he returns to the town
      where houses mostly stayed
            but people are mostly gone

listens to hushed up stories
      buys in local kiosk a drink
            tries to think of nothing
      throwing up repeatedly
            wiping sweating brow

      how could he leave
            how can he live
                  how though he can dare not to, now

River bloody river moves and howls —
            with its baby Leviathan
tossing turning inside it
            lonely, trying to sleep

Mother roams in oceans
      somewhere far and deep

And behold!
      he and the river monster
            suddenly
                  both are crying
                      each in his language “Mommy!”
and to both it seems
      that echo carries back:
            “I’m just busy, Son”

******

Cover art: created by Himaro, source on Pinterest