like planets

there’s blood

between the cracks in stone

someone has left it there

tiny, congealing spheres

like planets

whole

and undisturbed

perhaps the blade was too new

or the hand gone rogue in a too-small kitchen

or, perhaps, in some frantic war

the red settled into piles

of chalky rubble

in between the stones

in obvious relief

bright and tired and exposed to the sun