Crown of Thornes

It's the hellfire that lends
my cheeks their warmth,
spreads heat to failing limbs
and frozen ribs

After all,
All we are are bones
And dying flesh

Each day
inhaling lead lungs,
to take us to our deaths

My crown has overgrown
With bushes, crimson bred

Berries stain a white veil
virgin wearing dress.

Purity in blood,
And innocently lead.

Wore a smile until she,
forced to bow her head

And the ground opened.
To swallow back her tears.

Raining fallen salt to scatter
On her bed of broken,
Bare.

forest felt her pain,
and wood bound sisters beckoned,
and to her they called Him,
‘here’

There as he knelt beside her
Felt a pulsating of her pain

Embraced her breathing carcass,
absorbed her trembled heaving

Rattled breathing
like Earth,
He held his ground.

Whispered strengths into her ear,
drank the last of falling tears

To gentle,
let her rest.

They wonder why she burned
And took the devil’s bread.

But the devil lent his hand
and never made her bend.