The vile one climbed up my spine,

each vertebrae shivering under

its slimy footwork.

The Other came soon after,

filling each empty cyst with

malignant blackness.

An omen flap'd red greasy wings,

and mounted on my shoulder,

whispering the old tongues.

Eyes of the beholder, the

diamond-pearls of yesterday,

are now forever dark.

My cloak against the boring wind,

I dig again into endless sand,

No longer I press on.