TALKING TO A DRAGON’S HEAD

As I stood transfixed, curiosity tinctured with fear, your gaunt form was upon me.

You did not smell that much different then.

How do you stay warm with such flesh?

It is stretched over your enormous cage and a deprived thing.

When rain comes, scavenger beasts and maggot hordes open it to the soft beneath.

As you dry, the gnaw marks crust, cursing you forever.

Were you good and intact in your youth?

Are you youth? 

Well, it was not easy to get through, I can tell you that.

Now.

 

Our first moment.

WAITING FOR WEREWOLVES     SOUVENIR DE HANDECK,  ALEXANDRE CALAME  

This place is like the chamber sets of catacombs, but with inks and oils where skulls should be.

Ladies and gentleman and birds from the hunt.

Salvation and damnation and visions of the dead.

I pass by some because they use too many colors, but am seduced by simplicity, deep into others.

Magnets grasp filings from my iron eyes.

Are they talking to me?

I’m sure Mussorgsky’s pictures had entire conversations with him.

But where, o, where, is your corner?

It’s just through the door, and a hook to the left.

You’re alone on your wall, alone at night.

I recognize that ballerina.

I’ve been in this room.

Fuck.

CARCASS     INSPIRED BY PERPETUAL MOURNING BY TED MCKEEVER, BATMAN BLACK AND WHITE #1, DC COMICS  

And how about this lovely retreat we've provided.

Not the holiday spa you expected?

A faucet at your head, a drain at your feet, and a metal tub to lie in.

I don’t think comfort was first on the list.

Almost everything in here is made of stainless steel.

That’s to prevent whatever filth you may have picked up from the alley where I found you, half-adhered to the ground, transferring to the next customer here at the meat shop.  

Do you know what the faucet is for?

When I deprive you of what little blood is left, due to all the holes, I will rinse it down the drain like unwanted sewer run-off.

Put this under your head.  

I use it to hide and to be seen, to attack and to escape.

Again, not much.

There is no colder place.

Frozen lockers and butcher's tables.