after the formal feeling

and after the formal feeling the pain returns

the nerves like incandescent filaments burn

the heart wrung out wonders

how he’d even for a moment thought

that the pain could be left behind, forgot

eyes wide in a silent scream strident

the lips pursed, watch each moment

drag out in frozen seconds fractioned

lost in thoughts that can find no traction

torpid in volcanic bouts of screeching torment

like rescued persons who should’ve died

the realization of having survived

pours into the heart like molten lead

the tantalizing promise of solace not kept

the singeing misery of a cheated death

to be borne in all the time yet left

....................................................
after great pain, by emily dickinson