the taste of darkness

the taste of defeat
dark crimson
like a bitten tongue
and blood that lingers for 
too long, too
long in your mouth
mingling with hope fallen
blue-lavender-gray
and festering anger
bruised purple and inky, smoky black
difficult to swallow
and difficult to hide
even sweet honey
bitters after too long,
an unwanted memory,
when there isn't enough 
for it to stay forever