Bonfire of Olive Branches

These kisses

are sandalwood

and bitterness:

earthy and rust

and umber. 

These exchanges 

are smoke and 

sour from yesterday

and the bonfire

of olive branches.

These hands touch

with hungover 

wormwood

of wine truths 

and regret. 

These connections,

porcelain and fragile

that when shattered, 

mend, but cracks revealed

like broken plates. 

These words 

are wounded and 

autumnal under

brittle forces which

no hope can disarm.

Image from pixabay.