"Crocodile"


For those who feel
they cannot stay,
for each who finds
a separate way...


Ships that seldom dock
and notes of disbelief
returned by post
stamped "unreceived"

Boxes of a stringent life
packed amiss,
still keeping this
in remembrance of you

Silent spaces'
work and care
time-frozen, creased
in wooden walls

Halls of dirt and
dust fallen through the years
hallow a cathedral 
of killing tears.



...go with God.

The English words kill [v. to cause the death of; to destroy--Colloq. to overcome with laughter, pleasure, etc; to cause great pain; to exhaust--n. stream, channel, creek] and quell [to crush, subdue, put an end to; to quiet, allay] share the linguistic root [in music, the basic tone of a chord] of cwellen [M.E. to kill] and qualen [G. to torture], IE. base gwel- [to stab; pain, death]

M.E.: Middle English
G.: German (in etymology and pronunciation)
IE.: Indo-European

The phrase "crocodile tears" derives from an old belief that they shed tears while eating their prey.