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To Dawn by Ian Bailey


The PTSD, he

Heads like a herald

To dawn his new clothes

In the iridescence 

Of a pit

Edged into me

Like a hook

Caught in the gills 

Of a fish

I am torn into

A new coat, a pair of jeans

And with the new clothes, he’s

Like a pharaoh 

In my skin

My skin’s a pharaoh’s

When it’s on him

My head is filled with glory

Shillingless

Like a fountain

Where no one wishes

My mouth is music

Pouring out

Onto him

Unto PTSD

Him now soaked

From the oil of my skin

From the water in the fountain

And the music from my mouth

He’s soaked, like a child

In a church

Till he is

Sitting in the pulpit

Hearing my words


And I live for the day

The day I’ll dawn a new skin

And I'll walk like Napoleon

Stomping around him

And I live for the day

The day I’ll conquer I

And dawn new clothes, leather hides 

till I shed his skin awry

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