he taught me that you will all try to dig through my ribcage, to hallow my chest

thick blood dripping down alabaster thighs,

now not so milky anymore.

he said you were a pack of wolves

and i was a wounded deer

but xenophilius, you are a fool.

there are only serpents

bitter tears turned to scales of stone,

obsidian cyanide staining our teeth grey

as we spit death all around us.