Living
By Elizabeth Hayes
Life has devoured me.
Its teeth around my neck,
like a lazy cage.
I must hold onto it, knuckles whitening
with each second
I am given reasons to let go
and to hold on.
Every beast microdoses on death,
with shut eyes they are swallowed.
And with open eyes they crawl out
from between the teeth.
My teeth have never killed.
They feed on death regardless.
I am as much a beast as any,
I live in a world of death.
No wonder people dream of an afterlife.
Eating alone is a terrible burden.