placed in the pit
hands bound, heads down
drawn to the circle of bliss
the worms cried out
the kindling set
the mocking laughter rose
four black words written backwards and bleeding
i saw their stink and
rejoiced
in their twisting and burning
i saw them reach out, saw them weep
hands clutching and yearning
for mercy
i watched them suffer
and your lord, he cursed me
i was devoured by a lesser soul
he cut me as he spoke my name
he took from me all i was
and gave me nothing
destroy me
for i know nothing
cast my limbs
among the rats
i felt the black waters
cast around and through me
dragging me down
under the surface of sleep
becoming as i was
unclean and empty
holding me tightly
until the break of day
cutting and wailing
anticipating the demise
of all reason
biting and gnashing
on the tendons of man
and his hymns
staring into the abyss
i dream no more