My spirit first approached me

In the fiery autumn forest

I felt her breath through my mouth

Desperate gasps ripped from my chest

A creature of solitude

A singular defender

Failed to remedy the poisons

And kill the leeches that claimed her

I was frightened and cried out

Senses of the earth overwhelming

I let the poison roam freely

The disease fully claim me

For years I ignored her

And slept with writhing disease

It ate her tongue from her throat

And taught me to beg from my knees

On a winter night I wept

Tears freezing and cheeks stinging

My spirit did not rise up

The earth absorbed my grieving

I accepted my suicide

And mourned her with regret

I pried leeches off her face

Consumed softness for her bed

I felt my time was ending

So to spite my weakened self

I vowed to give her requiem

And nurture the corpse with help

I clawed at love with hunger

And medicated the disease

I learned to sing her chorus

And grew flowers from their seeds

Beneath lush summer branches

My heart beat evenly

I felt her joyful embrace

My spirit returned to me