HEALING

I AWAKE.
VAULTS AND MORE VAULTS
CORRIDORS AND AN ECHO OF FOOTSTEPS
SECRETS HELD
HEAVY DOORS AND ONE SKELETON KEY.

AND NOW THE RANCID, MUSTY INHALANTS
LONG HELD IN DARK SPACES
PENETRATE MY LUNGS
AND I PARTAKE OF THE POISON.
DUST COVERED CURSES.

I WRETCH AND I SCREAM ALOUD
I WEEP AND I STRIKE OUT
AT PHANTOMS AND FLASHING REFLECTIONS.

TONGUES, COLD AND HARD,
TURN STEAMY AND AGILE
AT THE SOUND OF WHISPERED INCANTATIONS:
ALL THE NUANCES HELD WITHIN ONE TIME-STOPPING BELCH
OF VENOMOUS VAPOR.

THE DEAD CANNOT HIDE
THEIR STORIES
ANYMORE.

- ANA CORTEZ ©