Straw man, did the
black plague take you
by surprise?

Do you remember what it was
to breathe without the stench
of deceit
wrapped around your face
to make you choke?

Snake-jawed, unhinged, swallowing reality
regurgitating thoughts you link
like tissue paper chains,
fragile and pathetic
circling your wrists
held there stupid, the illusion
of captivity
holds you fast
in your delusion

You bleed acid like a battery
useless and burnt out.