Shame, Rage, Starvation

There is a beast who breathes fire in my belly,

And fire in my head,

beats her frenzied war song in my ribcage,

and blows hot, angry breath into my lungs.

There is a ghost who shouts inside my skull,

and inside my mouth.

He puts vile words vile tones in my throat,

and poisons the earth behind my eyes.

There is a skeleton who sits on my shoulder,

hangs on my throat,

sings poison praise in my right ear,

and pushes down the flesh about my bones.

The beast chews my stomach,

The ghost cuts out my tongue,

The skeleton roars and gnashes my teeth,

And I am rendered mute.