Circle

Under the weight of the Serpent
I buckled and collapsed
Onto the floor where
Shards of broken
Glass and
Crystal,
Promises
Forced their way
Into my skin
Beneath my eyes
Until all I saw
Was a malicious kaleidoscope
Pointing only one direction:
Down

I spend days
And weeks
And months
And time
Scratching, clawing
Prying, breaking
Screaming, scarring
“I do not want
This glass within me.”
Unknowingly
I ground it up
A thousand
Dazzling burning diamonds
Flowed within me
Get them out
Right now

I tried time
And time
And time again.
Once, then twice
Then forty times.
The Serpent’s diamonds
Refused to budge
Like broken china
Covered in cracks
I am held together
By willpower and words.

But between my cracks
And shaking limbs
The Serpent slithered,
Crawled and crept.
I couldn’t breathe
As the Serpent moved
Inside my skin
And down my throat
Constricting my stomach
The Serpent remains
Keeping warm
Within my flesh
My ribs are no cage
For the Serpent’s strength,
Only the markings
Of a body too weak.
The Serpent laughs
And holds me tighter
Until I am desperate for escape.
Forget religion
There is no god
Yet still I kneel
Alone and solemn
The Serpent rests
Inside of me
Get it out
Right now