The world is populated with empty canyons
littered with trash and dammed up at one end
great concrete barriers to hold back the dark
to bear the burden of sad shames
lost secrets of pasts not soon forgotten
each one no different from any other
yet alone alone alone in the fear (lie) that they
they are the deepest, the darkest, the foulest valleys
one more deception poured as watery mortar
over painted faces and painted smiles
cheerful bright bandages masking pain

let the dam be the smooth unreadable face to the world
to hide the lake of pustulant poison
despite corroded cracks that weep sickness

or

tear it down that the black might pour forth
a torrent of night to wash away the broken
till forever gone is the dead dead sea
leaving only thin Styx for oaths and forgetfulness
with blessed knowledge that walls isolate
while streams bring forth thirsty life to drink