To Bear the Brunt of Many Blades

Nothing that breathes is above betrayal.
Nothing that breathes is divine.

~

Out from the shadows, well-wisher.
The gleam of your blade gives you away.
Drawn from me, my smiling assassin-
Meet the blood that moved you.
The blood of encouragement

They will serve you...

Long live the king.
Soak up to your arms in his blood.

Long live the king;
They will serve you well.

And you loyal friend,
Leave an ice pick in my neck
As it were mine to keep.

How terribly cold.

~

I breathe,
And count my shallow breaths.
Add another edge:
Be sure to twist the blade.

To this, a celebration of treachery
And scissored flesh.
Fall in, stain your steel in festive red-
Here, where the sheep are butchers.

A fresh patch of skin to pierce,
One cannot resist.

~

Unsteady steps-
Each waning,
Determined for purchase.
I am he who falters stricken with
One thousand blades.
With unsteady steps,
I find my balance in deception.
Step by burning step.

Warm in the presence of malice.
Barefoot among a skulk of men.
Eyes ahead and taller still,
I never look back.
No.

I knew not your names.
I knew not your numbers.
I knew you all too well.

~

Two blades for every inch of flesh.
Ensanguined,
This is that which did not kill me.

There's always room for one more blade...

Not such a sight for sore eyes,
The harrowed form of living will:
Bent,
And black,
And so terribly cold.

There's always strength for one last breath.