Experiment #23-A

Experiment # 23-A


You cry and shriek!
It rends my soul.
There is nothing I can do
but watch in horror as the grip of death
folds its fingers around you!

“O God!” I scream out.  “Why!”
I claw and chew.
I cannot get out!
Slowly we must watch as one by one
we are snuffed out!

And now it is you on the table.
You turn and look into my eyes.
A look of peace, of love.
Still your fear wears no disguise.

I keep clawing, biting while you watch
knowing there is nothing I can do.
But no!
Oh no! Here he comes
with that needle towards you!

I am frantic as are all the rest
but there is no way out of here!
Shrieking, scratching, biting
and then your scream stops me in fear!

They have done it to you.
I watch and die inside.
Your shrieks slowing what seems forever.
Your body violently jerking
in ways a body should move never.

Your final breaths,
you look once more at me as if to say
you know I tried.
It is not my fault.
This is just the way.

My comfort that it will not be long
as one is at the cage once more
now reaching for a lab rat
like so many times before.

--msl2023