Heart Blood

I can feel it deep inside of me.

It swirls and swells

in the pit of my being,

tentatively pushing

against my viscera.

I can feel its briery feet

take shape

as they find a foothold in my sapwood.

I can feel its bony hands

take shape

as they slowly reach for my life’s cage.

It starts to rise,

this dark ancient creature,

forcing its crooked back

into my recesses.

It will consume me.

My heart begins to pound,

thrashing a chaotic drumbeat,

a wild sonnet.

A heart song.

The creature seeps into my marrow,

cutting into my crust,

threatening to burst out of me.

Fireworks of motive and blood.

It forces its way through me,

grasping for my dry mouth.

It wants to be free.

The creature wants a voice!

It has dominion over me!

I split in two.

As it sheds my skin

it walks away, still searching for you.

It’s heart blood.

***

*Words by Natalie Brent

*Photograph by Megan van Wyk