Dead by Dawn

Lights. Flash. Mug.
Was never photogenic.
Clasps. Harness. Straps.
Against the Wall!
Bang. Crack. Fade.

…

The stench of sweat wakes me,
metal doors clank beside me.
Next-door screams follow
an all too familiar feeling sets in as
insanity now welcomes me.

Solitary—not my choice
The harness—for my own safety

Rats crawl through my cell
Cockroaches circle my feet.
Time has no meaning here.
Tick tock the clock is fucked.

Knock knock my last meal is here.
Slides through the hole on a white plate,
uncooked, raw—blood-red meat.
Strange shape, almost—human
A gift, perhaps—for freedom.

Sick of this stench in this windowless room,
with metal walls and metal doors,
and a metal bed on a metal floor.
Cold, hardened broken sink in the corner
staring at you with demise.

This caging cell block will dissipate but--
laughter next door. Atrocious laughter.
Parasitic. Contagious. It’s time.

Flash! Bang! It begins.
The door unlocks, flies open!
The lights in the hall turn off!

Inhale free will,
ashtrays and piss!
Howls are heard in the hall
shadows in the other cells
like the plague of rats with disease
too many escape their cells.

Crowd control—impossible!
Overpowers the sentries
with clubs and rods.
Flesh nibbles flesh as
the hunger spreads around
a cannibalistic nature.

I hear someone call my name,
a signal to participate,
to join in this escapade.


A man walks in like
arrogance grinning at me
like a malady lusting for passion.

Take it, bite it, do it
Rodent.

I tear the meat with my teeth to get to the gift inside,
shiny and edgy. I can see my reflection on it.
It laughs that uncontrollable cackle.
It spreads my mouth apart revealing

My way out of this harness

I stare at this man, who shares my smile.
The shackles—unlocked!
The harness—unlatched!
The straps—released!
The guards? I ask.

“Dinner is served.”