strings (2026)i can never tell if you're a metaphor, or if i'm a simile(i don't think i'll ever answer the latter)but i know that whatever you are,i'm hiding behind you, behind a sword and a shield,behind hands that would cut through hellfire and backjust to take mine, and have them ceasecease the shaking, the grasping at nothing,the clenched fists, the clawing,that has left gouges in everything i have ever lovedthe hands that can't loosen their grip on anything(least of all your own)i (we) can only hope, pray, begthat i never have to let gopersonpersonpersonperson