shattered silk across my face
a grieving posture of penance
bends my knees and releases me

i toss a picture of him
into the hole
throw in a fistful of lye
that covers his lips
twisting them
cleansing them of the lies

his eyes shadowed with worms
radiating punishment
for not loving a myth

his cheeks gaunt with
malnutrition
of
adoration

his hair a serpent's nest
of illusion

i rise from the ashes
of subjugation
done with my dirty work
walk away from guilt

his picture is not just
buried
it is gone
because it was never real

and i rise from the ashes
of a hell i had created

and fly

06/24/2006