whisper "love" to the pooling
blood at your feet.
we pick our teeth up
as though they were pain pills
we couldn't keep down,
half digested,
heavens half realized.

escape if you can.

ravens roost in our open chests
and our children will name them
after relatives they have only ever
met as shadows in the corners
of their bedrooms.

all of this is melting wax,
the smell of fat dripping
into fire,
a coffin lid to scratch
until our nails break off
and fall into our screaming mouths.

even escape is wasted effort.
we awaken every ******* time.