My screams rent the night, curdling the air

My bellows shift the moon, my moans are a prayer

My pillowcase is stained from the blacks of my eyes

My bookshelves are filled with failed plans I’ve devised

My fingers are dyed red from the blood of my pens

My soul’s painted black from too few amens

My bones are alight with the promise of more

My skin crawls with hope stashed atop Life’s trap door

My tongue narrates silk oaths and gossamer vows

My heart weeps for flames of friends I’ve already doused

My watch ticks the time since No Return’s line was crossed

My compassion’s been buried ‘neath the devil’s own frost

My whispers strike deep like the thundering sky

My holy lips purse as my hands justify

My wrists clank together, my feet shuffle on

My wings bear me forth to die at the dawn

My dreams divulge dreams that one day I’ll live out

My toes curl in warning, my teeth furnish doubt

My mind just keeps swimming, though Lake Wisdom’s dried up

My thoughts are osmotic, pouring over Death’s cup

My joints creak and crack like the bones of this house

My nose learns of Traitor’s own treacherous spouse

My back holds the knife that you forgot you could keep

My body surrenders gladly to permanent sleep