Prairie

barefoot
I stand in the sodden prairie
frozen mud enveloping
my numb feet.
tear stained
I announce to heaven
I can no longer stand erect nor
trudge through this weary life
for I am bent
and broken
I am empty.
I shiver in the silence,
wait,
then gather the pieces of my self
Like shattered glass
and press them
to my suffering breast
gasping,
then sighing,
resigned.