a man there lies

a man there lies

on his chest

pressed hard against his bed

a man there lies

still

afraid 

to move

what if he does

and his insides, burst 

out

through his mouth

a man there

with limbs of lead

and coal dust for organs

a man there

sawed-off

swimming in an ocean of bile

a man there

with a pack of hyenas

            gnawing away

                  at a fawn

    while it's still alive

for a heart

a man there

who looks into the dying eyes of the fawn

and walks away,

indifferent

a man there

thinking 

there is the world

and then 

there is him

trapped on its autumn island

writing HELP

in the sand on his palm

with tears 

dabbed in the ink of the language of voicelessness

not a single crease on his forehead

or a wrinkle 

near the corner of his eye

afraid 

to make any sound

what if he does

and his insides, burst 

out

through his mouth

a man there

scratching the reflection off

in his eyes

so that he can see

a man there

who used to be 

blind

now lost 

with his new-found sight

a man there

afraid

to know

what he'll see

what if he does

and his insides, burst 

out

through his mouth

a man there lies

a man there lies

a man there lies

a man there lies

wondering why

and 

for how long

a man there lies

hoping

not for too long