BENIGHTED

once emerged, blood splattered and creased,
 hunched over, eyelids welded and rejecting new air
in long, gasping screeches, it is common practice
 to keep it alive until the gory scene in which it
currently has the lead role, is viewed afresh
 with a different burning and a different sadness,
 when it too can have sense enough to wonder,
'oh god, what have I done?’

Fadhel Ben Mansour