Memorial Days

We salvaged our skin from the sidelines

They were burning the dead in the dust.

No one stirred to the sound of the music

They were too busy staring at us.

In the sky the smoke curled, and the ashes

Came raining down from above

Burning lips where we caught them

Last kisses from those that we loved.

In the dark that followed I found you

You were hiding your face from the crowd

Your fingertips burnt when they touched me

And you wore your stretched skin like a shroud.