broken

by Linda M. Crate

pickles sweeter than the truth linger on your tongue
a constant reminder of her
she that you wish you could forget
the one that had a heart as black as your coffee -
she tore off the wings of all your dreams,
and choked you in the embrace of painful words that cut in
thick shards of glass you were surprised
didn't cut up the lining of her throat as they did your heart.