stagnant (ii.)

forging across the dunes,
you spot an oasis.

parting your blistered lips
you drink, and you drink
greedily.

the world stills and
the water glistens, gently pulling you closer.

and so
you drink, and you drink
but the water is tepid under the weight of the sun.
it is not an oasis.

still, it cools the ache in your throat and
seeps through your bones.
a temporary respite leaving you thirsty for more
and more.

your body feels heavy.
the road has been long and the air is quiet.
eyes glazed, you gaze into the water,
but the water is murky and you are still so thirsty.
it is not an oasis.

and so
you drink, and you drink
but the water is stagnant

still, it emolliates the splinters in your chest and
oozes through your lungs.
a temporary respite leaving you thirstier than before
ever before.

the world dims and
the water hardens, harshly yanking you in.

body leaden and bloated, you cannot move.
soon, the bacteria and pestilence
leech, gnaw and bite; ravaged
from the inside.
you weaken
and wan.
limbs too bloated to move,
heart too drained to fight.

surrendering, you stay.
continuing to offer pieces of yourself away.

still, it reddens the light in your eyes and
percolates through your heart.
a temporary respite leaving you weaker than before.

it is not an oasis.

---

A stagnant love is a stale love.

The first iteration of this came to me during a particularly toxic situation-ship I was in almost two years ago.

Version1 was more of a cautionary tale to myself with my subconscious as an incessant voice telling me it was not a good situation, but I continued to stay to my own detriment. I will probably put the original up at another time.