Natalie Shau
I need to believe
That there is something
Inside still salvageable
Some overlooked heart fragment
Still red, ripe, and pumping
Some hint of the original
So that without
Too much embellishment
I can say
I am still myself,
At least the parts
Worthy of presentation.
I thought it was okay to die,
My right to step into the war
And come out again
A hero, in a discreet box
Adorned with some flag.
A picture of you perhaps?
(The one who murders
Has the right to confiscate
My body, having emptied
The suit for deployment)
I have thwarted evolution
My component fibers
Coarse as burlap
Settle in the gut
Like a mutiny
Of bewitched caterpillars
They chew the binding
Of all my diaries
That not a letter arrives
In the order of consignment
My self-improvement efforts
Are much too clinical,
They don’t leave much space
For living, only doing
And I’ve done enough
To earn the title of Sisyphus.
A visit to the anesthesiologist
Will keep me ostensibly numb
Numb as a glacier passing
From ship to ship,
An eviscerating tower
Unalterable in its contacts
The less we know
The more encompassing
The excuse
I live to pilfer
If you possess it
Why shouldn’t I?
And if I am you
Than I’ve no reason
To acknowledge my roots
Those obscene snares
Which remind me
Of the refuse
From which I rose
No I’d rather be you
That I can remain pristine
A Goddess, infallible,
Untouchable, reduced to ash
In the eyes of unscrupulous mortals
Yes I’d rather be death
In a human disguise
mindlovemisery 
KILLER
first
he
killed
the
butterflies
then
spiders
bugs
and
such
he
killed
much
larger
animals
it
still
was
not
enough
finally
in
his
great
unrest
the
man
killed
one
that
he
loved
best
and
put
her
on
the
wall
you
see
and
all
he
thought
was
good
for
me
Psychopaths always escalate their crimes, just as one might increase the dose of a drug again and again
Vivid, spooky and powerful. Loved the first stanza.. very emotional.
Thanks so much!
Almost Halloween like.. Spooky… Where do you find these disturbing pieces of art….peace
Society has its dark sides. I generally type surreal art in my searches and it can be creepy at times
I am still myself,
At least the parts
Worthy of presentation.
Exquisitely put. Seriously. 🙂
Thanks Tony! That is a line from the original I didn’t want to change that one
Great poem, wise and raw words!.
“The less we know/ The more encompassing
The excuse”
Thanks for sharing and all the very best to you!,
Aquileana 😀
Thank you so much for your encouragement XD
Great stuff, as usual. I loved the ending.
Thanks Oloriel!
An interesting look at the dark side!
Thank you Leovi XD
Another brilliant and evocative piece Yves – so much power and depth to your words.
This stanza is brilliant: My component fibers / Coarse as burlap / Settle in the gut / Like a mutiny / Of bewitched caterpillars / They chew the binding / Of all my diaries
etc. Such a wonderfully unique perspective and description 😀
Oh thank you so much Pat I can’t tell you how much it means to me your encouragements
It’s my pleasure – you write with such depth, feeling and always interesting imagery – definitely thought provoking and moving. 🙂