Trust

is the dagger
honed not on one edge
by the sharp bluing
of the metal-smiths craft
but with the dull oxidant
of age and abuse
now used to cleave away
piece by piece
at the remains of what
still stands between us

gone, the fine fired steel
which carried us
all those years ago
leaving in its place
this blunt reality
we have come to know
and embrace together
our last stand
alone
a shadow of ourselves