Danger money should be paid

to those whose job it is

to keep stoked

the egos of

others

 

Flies swarm the eyes

Beelzebub peels

the skin from

your tongue

 

As you smile at the

nonsense of the one

stood before

both bare

and fragile

 

Yet ready to bite

strike, venom

long teeth

right through

to bone

 

In the time it takes to

lick your lips

a slow breath, a pause to blink

 

Beads of saliva

molten sweat curse

criss cross the brow

 

Burn bite back,

"why of course," and

"by the way"

you begin