“Pain is not a punishment, pain is always a warning. Death is the only punishment.” (Quotation)

 

Pain knows my name.

Pain ticks my name in my temples.

Pain whispers my name when I’m thinking of silence.

Pain screams through my blood when I’m gasping for sleep.

 

Pain fogs my head and bone grinds my patience to dust.

Pain knots blood wet ropes of razoring wire.

Pain flames bite black and tiger tooth savages darkness.

Pain saint martyrs my dreams, saint martyrs my dreams.

 

And then, please then, the silence, redemption.