
Justice
Deep breath. Hold it. Now, release slowly. Do that a few more times. Take a moment to notice the cool of the wooden floor under your naked feet. Look up at the sliver of sky between the shades. What shade of blue is it? Can you hear the birdsong? The traffic outside of the window? Are people walking by? Stay present.
It was just a nightmare. Remnant of the fleeting thoughts before unconsciousness. The past...
White walls. Pale grey tiles on concrete. Painting of Saturn Devouring His Son.
As I draw closer, the lights dim. Only the painting is highlighted. Only the painting grows.
Life-size, the scene. What is it about his eyes that look at me as if I'm known? Eyes aware of the atrocity and yet unrepentant?
I'm cold. From head to toe, yes, but my heart also feels nothing. As if the act of eating the body is commonplace. His body is still warm. His blood drools down my chin. I think of his acts as I exact my brand of justice...
...at the Hermitage...
"You're not welcomed here."
"Where better? You doubt."
"Your lies distract me!"
"You are of two minds."
"I'll be rid of you!"
"You're the one that called."
"I merely wrestle - "
"With your worldliness."
"I'm only human."
"That is prone to fail"
"Get away from me!"
"How will you make me?"
"Through sheer force of will."
"You cannot be still."
"Heaven, please help me!"
"It doesn't exist."
"It's you I'll resist."
"And though you may rage-"
"Get away from me!"
"-already engaged."
"Let me set the stage."
"This is sacrilege!"
"I'll visit your dreams,
where you lose control
and possess your soul."
The Subway
Inaudible as the message was,
that information was being shared
served as a comfort and we waited
for the clarification coming,
but the seconds turned to long minutes
becoming in us a helplessness
that drove us to a point of madness
and of one accord, we became Death.
All but the conductor was rescued.
In Humanity
The door was opened,
no one knows by whom,
when or even why,
but so it remains,
allowing access
to the spiritual.
Had we forgotten,
distracted ourselves,
we may have survived.
Alas, we're all flawed,
easily mastered
by depravity.
Brutal, "I love you,"
hours of neglect
and all the grooming
have had a hand
in my decision
to become humane.