My Nightly Visitors

The familiars come by night
to taunt, to flaunt, to beat me
until my brain is fuzzy
my heart is weak and
the skin is bubbling and raw
they rewind and remind my shame
every last sin in vivid detail
they replay all of it
from the first to the last frame
i performed as expected -
sliced by hate
raped by greed
flogged by lies
puched by lust
over and over they take their turn to lash at me
to crucify
without forgiveness
i beg for mercy
i plead for relief
they give me bourbon to drink and sensuality to eat
and wait for me to provide the weapons.