Cities

I watched them erect entire cities
on the shores and river banks
while my brain swelled in my skull,
squeezing out the blood, until it waterfalled
out of my ears and I had to scream,
my hands cupped by the lobes.

The built and built until I became
skeletal on those beaches, my feet
sinking deeper into the sand. They never
heard me, not once. My fists beat
the water and the salt splashed into my eyes,
blinding me as it stung and my head
continued to pound and the blood went
on rushing out.

I shouted into the night while pillars
were hoisted into the sky and lights crowded
out the stars from the atmosphere.
And for days, I cried.