Torment fills the
creases of my
haggard face as
raised hairs erect
themselves in defense
of an unknown stranger
who has no face,
no skin to speak of,
just dried bones
that clack together
like brittle wind chimes
whispering a tuneless dirge
My limbs shake furiously
from my splintering
four-post,
taunted by the
invisible oblivion
waiting outside the
chamber door
I am tainted
by the fingerprints
of dead gods
There is a window here,
but I did not open it —
an exit,
but I did not take it
With eyes closed,
eternally fastened
to the penumbra
of the lantern’s
shadow,
I fall helplessly
into my self
Death is borne
into me
© Christopher Rupley and Steve Shultz 2015
(This is another collaboration with the talented Christopher. He’s really opened my eyes to the art of collaborative writing. Be sure to check out more of his awesome work here).