My buddy’s mates, his new line brothers,
are huddled within the kitchen, taking turns
burning an historic alphabet into their biceps,
alongside their decrease legs, into their chests.
They howl, licking their chops, relaying
a single bottle and a branding iron
like twin batons. Decoupled from livestock,
or the establishment of slavery, it’s defined
to me as the last word act of devotion,
of constancy, the perfect illustration of what
it appears to be like like to like. However I need to inform you,
there are specific smells we’re not
outfitted for, can not unknow,
like how the tongue can’t lap again a phrase,
and a bell can’t be unrung. First, the hair glows like
a reside wire, then the pores and skin whines like a feral cat
caught in a entice. Oh, the brothers howl till
snot balloons within the nostril. One among them notices
me nursing my beer and whispers: I don’t assume
blood ought to be right here. Then the solar turns into
an aerosol of sweat and creosote, a perfume
of outdated rose and spoiled milk, of feces and dirt.
