last night I walked with a zombie

inconceivable now as the pathway
its soft-looking venoms
where once

the bell the bell the clang
that rang for us zombies
at the river's edge

blood in cups we drank
so slow and soft
slicking each other's bloodlips
never really asking

it's not me
it's not my family
in your head

we the walking dead

eating at each other's brains
lack of brains
wasting unrepeatable miracles

muscle, fat, fibre
connective tissue
brain most of all, this head offal—

all these we devour and desire
our species
yes we desire most of all
our own species
and we are rare

what's in your head tonight
zombie? oh oh oh

bury me under a heavy stone
let it be inscribed
with warnings
not to unearth monsters
lest one has time to talk
and the fortitude to wait

for all of it to become true

.

.