in the street they wrap her in chains silver

sweetening stolen tongue. their lavish tiger

catches her teeth in its jaws leaves

paper trails on the skin until she sleeps.

they love this insincere quiet

this bleeding map to the fissure in her lungs.

they gather driftwood

coax flames into symphonies

for the lipless to echo in sodden chambers.

when fresh ash clings to her throat

they whisper her skeleton the melody.

she plucks a foreign voice from her chest.

the sound shudders her organs

crisis careening inside her

oceans spilling from her bones.

they fear her and

each other.

she will never breathe again.