Silent Sob

Her overheated heart ignites,
indignance holds her breath,
unable to respire,
afraid it might expire
in a roaring dragon’s flame.

Eyes closed, repeating their names
over again, she sees them
as crimson flames
dancing on charred walls,
burning the inside of her lids.

The fierceness of the fire
has beaten tattoos into her skin,
melted her flesh with grief;
she can only press her lips
against gritted teeth
that strain to bite and rip,
an oral cage of maternal rage.

Her mouth stays shut,
traps her loud lament,
so that words like cinders form
a silent sob like a poem.