At Long Last

look for me underneath rocks
heavy maladies crushing my bones

behind desiccate trees where I
carved my pain into the bark

listen for stiff labored breathing
amid soundless sobs of the night

when you find me
be gentle but kill me

I won’t love you
but I’d still be grateful

when a star burns its last
it curls into itself

becomes small in forever
black speck a cold cinder

unseen but at long last
now free of the fire