The waraq, empty of chlorophyll, hung chewed & dangling
Because there was no witness amidst the yellowing foliage.
The toothing beast’s rapture, heavy in the air like a song.

                                    ***

Because there was no witness amidst the yellowing foliage,
The toothing beast’s rapture, heavy in the air like a song
Unfamiliar to soil-worn hands, harvesting small implosions.

                                    ***

The toothing beast’s rapture, heavy in the air like a song
Unfamiliar to soil-worn hands. Harvesting small implosions,
A marble heaven built over hill & tomb, reaches everywhere.

                                    ***

Unfamiliar to soil-worn hands harvesting small implosions,
A marble heaven built over hill & tomb reaches everywhere
The unyellowed, muting wind can neither stain nor uproot.

                                    ***

A marble heaven built over hill & tomb reaches everywhere.
The unyellowed, muting wind can neither stain nor uproot
A land ungodded – the dead’s hollow, hallowed roaring.

                                    ***

The unyellowed, muting wind can neither stain nor uproot
A land ungodded. The dead’s hollow, hallowed roaring
Silence, interrupted by riot of metal teeth & ricochet

                                    ***

A land ungodded the dead’s hollow, hallowed roaring
Silence. Interrupted by riot of metal teeth & ricochet,
A country can only be accountable for the screams.

                                    ***

Silence interrupted by riot of metal teeth & ricochet.
A country can only be accountable for the screams
We cannot unhear or unwrite from our memory.

                                    ***

A country can only be accountable for the screams
We cannot unhear or unwrite. From our memory,
A history unfragmented, free of limbs disfigured.

                                    ***

We cannot unhear or unwrite, from our memory,
A history unfragmented. Free of limbs disfigured,
Would you believe me if I said I bled for this?

                                    ***

A history unfragmented free of limbs disfigured.
Would you believe me if I said I bled for this?
Leaves caught in my throat like a contradiction

                                   ***

Would you believe me if I said I bled for this –
Leaves caught in my throat like a contradiction:
Name name name unname name –
                                                        name name name unname name –

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