As the sinewy flesh slowly frays and pulls apart
The final futile struggles of dying blood
The memories of evil acts
Torn from the dark
Flow in a torrent through leaky valves
A regretful flood

With every beat, beat, beat, of the heart
Demanding their just dues
The ghosts of your past cruelty
No longer in fear of you
Have at last come to call

You were told in written word long ago
There was a price for each red drop
And you shall pay each and every day for your hateful hands
Until your pitiful cold heart finally seizes and stops.

You starting counting the beats in your chest
One by one
Wishing in your mind there were more sunrises
  There will be only the last setting of the sun

So with every thud, thud, thud,
Of your poor heart
With each labored breath
From the darkness closing on the mind
You pray on your knees and beg for just another day
Hoping to sate the gods with stolen gold
The fates refuse,
And turn away

All Rights Reserved @ Tammy M. Darby May 3, 2018.