the coral of an ancient reef

baby's feeble first cry
knew it would be so hard
hands weren't scarred
toppled barns and houses
towards the sky at her birth
strange and out of place
where the dead-life grew larger

all that forgotten childhood
before i heard her screams
not saying anything else
she turned and walked away
darkness remained, starless
as evil tongues had it
she remembered the first

desire warmed the nape of my neck
like an invisible shaking
i turned to face my destination
the dried blood of executed men
still wrapped in innocence
her grave, steadfast eyes
concealed by the thick layer of mist

the head of the snake reaches its tail
clear and sharp, nails on glass
infinitely more terrible than mere death

Setting Orange, 20 Chaos YOLD 3190
(Saturday, January 20 2024)