one            can

                        not

  find   any

                   thing

       here that

           does not

           smell like

             an

                 nihilation

 

this confluence

 of crows

      a murmuring of mouths 

 a murderful grudge

a necrophilic advance 

  a drooping of wings

 

a reminder of the significant

 difference between grief and

 reconnaissance:  

           now is the time to

learn

          about predators one must avoid.

 

*

The claim to sovereignty

as one descends into the grave carrying

two keys

                 one in each hand: a sign of iniquity

the cast of the body

of a guard dog

 discovered in a

 Pompeiian domus.

 Said body of said guard dog

contorted beyond any chance

of escaping the

 time-of-times-already-gone.

The call

to oblivion

persists.   A body un

                     recognisable

the collar chain

keeping

               everything in

place.

The angel never arriving in time

to roll away the stone.