things are looking up

it's time to laugh again

that thursday in May,

when i sealed away

all my smiles and laughter

into a little black box

before handing it over

to an eagle

who promised to return

every day

and claw away the flesh

from my torso.

this morning,

i captured him

in my trembling hands,

and called upon the strength

of those who stayed loyal

to a disgraced ally.

His sad eyes sang in pain

as I ripped the beak

from his face,

before procedding

to tear off his wings

feathers and bone mixed.

yet he choked out a final laugh,

gurlged with blood and vomit,

for as i opened the box

he lorded over me each day,

i found only darkness.

 

stumbling from my cave,

out into the welcoming sun.

my chains fell apart

as with each step

another link turned to dust.

when my chains were gone

the flesh fell from my frame.

each clump returning to mud

to feed the seeds of life.

finally, a walking skeleton

my bones became ethereal

as the last bits of myself

took to flight in the breeze--

my laughter returned.