wings of a human

grasp those wings that grow out of your back
pull them forward tightly with your bloodied hands  
 
do you deserve the white that marks you of heaven
do you deserve the halo of gilded roses settled against your forehead
 
rip them out  
rip them out
you deserve nothing  
 
you do not deserve to be heralded as a messenger of peace
your hands run with the blood of innocents
your heart beats on borrowed time  
 
but you cannot your selfishness grew with time
you've lost yourself to a downward spiral
 
you let go of your wings, now stained with red
they unfurl fully and your shadow covers the earth  
 
no one can believe that you descended past the sin you vowed to protect the world from  
 
the wings hang heavy from your back  
your hands hang heavy at your sides