The Heart Shows No Signs

The heart, the surgeon says, does not reveal

the small rifts, the hairline cracks which

split the hairline cracks they conceal cops

and robbers in a stretch of skin flaunting

star-scars with show of blood bone

the ledges of what it holds tight in checkmate

moves: bend this and break

fight first and bleed to earn

needle  finger  wrap  caress  balm

the salvation of sight   Behold what beauty

lasts, what outlasts itself    The curtain

calls the ovation    Seize the beginning

that ends this way: off center stage above

fractured ribs the heart succumbs in silence

All is dark. Listen      a kommos sung solo

It is too late to repair anything.