Children of The Poor, Bleed For The Sins Of Their Parents

Silence is cut
with the razor-stepped stagger of an animal
un-caged
echoes of harsh breathing
hack my lungs

the exquisite taste of fear's salted sweat
runs down onto my lip

his belt dangles from the raw shake
of his clenched fist
dragging, it hisses, buckle clinking
a rattle snakes tail
full of drunken venom

tears buy no reprieve here,
bite your god damn tongue
wait for him to lay in and lash on
because he wants to inhale the terror,

I'm sure it makes him feel a man
just like his father...

she dabs at the slick split welts
on my back, ass and legs
her tears sting as they drip onto
the swelling pools of blood-laced lattice-work her apologies as hollow as
my forgiveness

beneath the stench of poison
the scent of blood's crisp iron-filled tang
cries softly on the floor

he is slumped on the bed
snoring gently
a boyish smile
alight on his grizzled face
alcohol pouring from his pores
a leaking still of 100% proof