hanging from
the gallows pole
cradled by a
deadman’s rope
as the crows wait
patiently for
the spasms to halt
before feasting
on the bulging
hazel incongruence
of a fool flopping

one last poem
a performance piece
in gargled howls
jerking rhythmically
as the fingerbones
of thanatos stroke
a freshly shaven cheek
bereft of tears
two hollow skulls
sharing a last
joke before returning
to the dust from
whence we came