By Katrina J. Paddock

Worlds have ended at this crossroads
Worlds have ended, are ending:
with knives in bellies
with life in bellies
with fire in eyes undefeated
with hope crushed out of deflated chests.
Worlds have ended, will continue to end:
with five-year-old hearts
and lullaby lips
with empty arms
and fist-kissed skin.
Worlds are ending slowly as
we blink, as we swallow—
mid-conversation—
as life is smeared on cement.
Worlds have ended at this intersection
All these worlds ended, irreparable
these spasming hearts ended, irremediable
All these lives by life
consumed.