exodus

there is a wound in the Earth

where you have sliced

and stuck your grubby fingers.

and from the wound,

you have retrieved the secrets

the Earth was unwilling to relent.

the Earth knew you would never love them

the same once you knew.

and they were right.

they are no longer a smiling thing,

an arm that cradles or feeds.

they are just another thing

you regarded too highly,

and a series of expectations left unmet.

and to think you may have

given yourself to the Earth–

loved them so much you might have

bled and bled and bled for them,

given everything you had

so they might love you in return.

no, they have already taken too much.

there is nothing more to give.

so you give them Hell instead.

Artist and Author: Holly Hansen

Holly Hansen is a digital artist from New Mexico. She is 26 years old and received a Bachelor of Arts in Illustration in 2019.