bite

Unfortunately

there is no morphine

for this kind of death

it is painfully slow

with only wood 

to clamp in your teeth 

and wait for rigor mortis

the impulsive breech 

so naively embraced

is like sugar borrowed

from a neighbor

when it is time

to return the favor

only a handful

of detritus remains

a good screen death

is always impressive

so bite down hard

on this stick in the mud

Tess Kincaid

June 2011