Beasts of Men

Beneath the clouds
of ivory foam,
the emerald water
is the sky in
an alternate universe.

The shouting from
outside the door was
muffled and blasted
as her ears bobbed
rhythmically against
the rocking of
the liquid cradle.

Submerged is she,
in an unsettling sleep.

For there was he,
haunting her dreams;
his sardonic smile
plastered across
cheek to cheek.

Like a submissive prey,
she was caught in
a hypnotic trance.

Still as the silence
she laid beneath his weight,
clad in their primitive skin.

With battered breath,
he muttered things
into her ears.

The words were inaudible,
but the hatred was clear.

The silver of his tongue
sliced through her flesh.

Deep in her heart
the tip of
the blade seek---
it wanted blood,
and drew it quick.

The crimson clouded
the tub of emerald sea,
and he was laughing
with triumph
at his masterpiece.

She laid unfaltering
and watched his grin
subside with a
sobbing plea.

The boy sat in the
bath with her,
sporting the same
scars as she did.

The world outside
got noisier, thus
she returned to sleep.

"There's more to
the world, my child.

If our differences
are endless,
then leave me be.

Should you be
here to stay,
then give me peace."

Her blood fondled
the angry child that
lives within the beast.

The prayer was uttered
in the soapy water
salted with his tears.

A ritual of cleansing
from the malice
that invaded her ears.

...

It was a long ago
when the tears
were in her
mother's eyes.

Today,
the warm emotions
were flowing out
of hers.

On stage,
the chubby girl
hugged two teddies
in both of her arms.

The spotlight is
glowing like a sun
above her head.

The applause
were like gentle hands
stretching a smile
on her face.

The soft cotton
barely made a sound
when they hit
the beech floor.

As the girl
spread her
outstretched arms,
she grew like
a sprout under
nature's nurture.

In her place
a young woman bowed,
basking in the glory
of the moment.

She looked across
the auditorium
and saw her playmates
in the darkness.

Each of them
had a limelight
of their own,
playing out life's
various renditions.

Things she had
been through before.

She started to
take careful steps
down the stage.

The vast terrain
that she was
frightened of.

But not anymore.

The beginning is
ever so near.

As she walked
into the seating area,
the audience stood.

And flashes of
white light sliced
through darkness.

They have been
there forever,
biding for this time.

With a ruffle
of her hair,
she beamed with
that concealed courage.

It took so long,
plagued with many
uncertainties.

Lost in the vagueness
searching for
that imaginary entity,
she came to realize
that it lives in her.

Perhaps some of
its attributes
will remain in
an eternal slumber.

But one day,
they will materialize
into another being
to continue the
journey with her.

Till then,
let her begin
this escapade.