behind the grate, breaking the silence

the perfect site for a courthouse 
he didn't know what she would say
the forest was a forbidden place
fingernails painted black
downstairs, in the cubbyhole
a thin skim of muddy water
strangers trampling on my feet
i have dragged myself up
i have carried away impressions
skin yellow and eyes like dark bulbs
clinks and scrapes come from below
twisting the twinkling diamond necklace
it's not hard to imagine
blood from my t-shirt
the meat inside it
it's the law of the jungle here
life, embattled against death
babbling at the edge of a dream