Death Hissing
They are bringing him in, cuffed and head split
Water running through hair locks clotted with blood, cascading down his nose and trickling like pain honey from his sewn lips
A chain on each side of his face, pulling each side of his lips
towards the back of his ears, they put a smile on his face
Heart dripping with tar, darker than the darkest of nights
The executioner picking rotten meat off his teeth
Smell of burnt flesh in the air, wingless vultures circling around
Legs dragging on the ground, leaves rustling,
Death hissing.
This is a city where eyes are gouged out and no one can see
Children are skinned alive spiritually with diamond daggers
Souls gone septic, pre post-apocalyptic
Chain-free
But from generations in every family, are passed down heirlooms of slavery
The pipes are smouldering towards the glass ceiling
Ashes snowing down the man's face, hiding his despaired glance
Time to take one last look, over the ruins and distorted faces
of a crowed so hungry, they chew on their own brittle bones as they watch
Nausea in the air, the sky sickens him
Death hissing, slowly approaching, he mutters:
Come,
Cradle me.