If you see men pass through
a desolate room,
and fade out of existence.
You've seen ghostly residue
of men lead to their doom.
You've seen a past violence.

If you see women pass through
large, empty halls,
and constantly look over their shoulders.
You've seen how societies' glue
is stalked within the walls.
You've seen a fear that's grown colder.

If you see people pass through
the pages of your books,
look closely at who's remembered.
Four men die and get their due,
four women can't escape threatening looks.
Only one group ends up dismembered.

If you see me pass through
a part of your life,
please don't have any doubt.
You've seen this world's terrible retinue
that haunts and causes strife.
Yet the sight of me makes you pass out.

Swallows get caught in your throat
trying to escape the cat.
Feathers are ticklish,
the cat's grip is vicious,
is this how we've come to say that
the cat got your tongue,
the cat got your tongue,
because you thought
you could swallow winged lies.
The hunter inside
always finds its pride
in the throat where the swallow choked.