Wait for me / wait
for me till I've stopped kicking / let me
bleed out / I will survive / wait for
the bruises to soften and fade to green
then yellow / till I'm done with rehab and ready to be had /
wait for me till I sleep at night / without clenched teeth /
till I've moulded a key / to the lock of the gate /
that keeps me in / wait for me till you can reject
my flaws / when hesitancy you no longer detect /
believe this frosty face for its honesty /
wait till wrinkles adorn a visage /
that sneers at you sometimes / but wishes /
against the odds / we would come around and make amends /
wait for me till the moon is new /
the sky an empty canvas / gift the holy ghost brings /
wait for me till trees have leaves again /
and maybe a bud or two wanting to bloom /
wait for me till I've slipped from my golden cocoon /
bandages removed / with wings
full and outstretched / wait for me
Lee Burke González
Valentine (detail), 2019
Acrylic on paper