burthen

She broke the silence of certain things:
she came right out and said it to him.

They'd been dragging togetherness by the neck
each with a hand on the pulsing throat,
with its feet making independent trails

in the dust that was all that was left
of the long way they'd chosen to go.

She gave up to him what was left of their hope,
and he shook his head. So she let it drop

She'd have cried,
if the desert had left any tears in her.
Now released, he let go and they walked

side by side towards the same horizon point,

he occasionally passing the time of day, but she

with togetherness still in tow. She could just

let it go,

but held tight by the throat -
she knew if she did,
she'd stay.