the sediment

the arsenic tongue knew no better
for the graze of the sand
taste of the ocean
 
frothing at the mouth not
unexpected
till
the soothsayer had 'em disillusioned
 
life
one drop too many
 
bristling at the brittleness of the fossils
the rock held
the stories over millennia
the southpaw grave digger's dexterity
no match
disrobing death's beauty  
 
oh how he bends over and blows
feather dust clinging the lungs
 
cursed  
and crushed.
 
 
...