We leave a trail

We leave a trail

Small traces

In every touch

Sweat and skin

Muck and grime

So much time spent

Falling to pieces.

Are we revenants

Back from the grave

So much of our lives

Left to rot

The stink of us

Fermentation

Begins in the womb.

The newly minted

Are not immune to fallout

Deterioration is inevitable

Ageing is no disguise

Everything is provocation

To the highly aroused.

God help the bloodhound

Everywhere we go

There is evidence

Of those who went before

Salting and dissolving,

Waiting to evanesce,

Attributes fully absorb.

Buildings are repositories

The air is heavy

With the pain of loss

The anger of the damned

Despair of the maimed.

The pall of sorrow

Hung over the balustrade

The drape of despond.

We are second-hand

Even as new

We are used,

Party to all that went before

Ignorance is no excuse

Just a reason

To behold.