The Murder of the Jack of Hearts

The Jack of Hearts

was hanged for murder

in the wings of the theatre

whilst the symphony played,

and even though

I screamed I was alive,

climbing down from the rafters,

I wasn’t heard over

the percussion-

typical.

And just because

you asked

doesn’t mean

I was going to comply.

I’m not in the habit

of following directions.

I formed my path alone

with fire and

a dripping hunger

to go deeper,

into the earth,

into the water,

re-learning the nature’s tongue,

letting go of the past’s masks

and coming back

into my body

from all directions.