• Wound


    We built the Devil's teeth-
    of a valley, made a maw,
    coaxed out His cancered, blackened tongue
    and begged for him to have a taste as we skulked among the buds
    further blackening his mouth.
    wicked spires, minarets
    unraveling saffron, Sucking dye,
    water for its wheezes-
    a never-ending thirst.

    We tied our Children to His teeth,
    allowed them breadth enough
    to twist about,
    thread wire Twine to cut the plaque,
    tear it out of corners, shadows,
    cast it to the streets:
    Further blind an age of Men!
    Further make our sooty selves
    blend in.

    We listened to the Devil's teeth,
    dreamed of golden things
    as his lungs, Draconian, (a mile deep)
    breathed gold as we did Air.
    And soon the world was gray,
    Her spectral, precious blood
    spilt, welled under crust,
    waiting:
    Will a worthy Man be born again?