nameabledays Archive One

EXTRACTING THE WORD

More than of warriors
It is a game of priests

Slow water on tonsure
Drop by measured drop into brain
Into mouth by tube or bucket
Ablution communion sermon

All at once, and a boot
On the pit of the stomach
To make sure the act
Of contrition is perfect

Nature and the universe
Are summoned:
Behind the hood
Crowned with thorns
Sturm und Drang in the ears
Rope or barb on the neck
A blow on every bone
Pliers and lightning
On the fingernails
Élan vital flies from genitals

And as the stomach voids
Upon the tonsure descends
The tongue of fire, and the torn
Mouth speaks in tongues

More than of priests
Despite the random death
It is a game of clowns


Marne L. Kilates
April 23, 2007

Digital Art by Neil Doloricon