The Heart of all Things

The Heart of all Things

by Charl Landsberg

There are two kinds of people,

who speak of the deep places:

those who speak in fear and ignorance,

and those you invite you in.

Would you take my hand?

I will show you where the roads come from.

I will show you where the rivers end.

I will show you the heart of all things.

You will call me Blessed Azrael,

and I will call you my friend.

-o0o-

Dispelled

And how is it that you unstitch me so,

with one kiss, my every front unseated?

As glamours break you watch them go,

while I sit here, helplessly defeated.

Your soft smile serving a gentle glow,

asking if your spell might be repeated.

-o0o-

mango

mango by charl landsberg

when you use magic to wage battle,

all thats left of you by nightfall,

is the inedible stone of reason,

and the raw flayed skin of sadness.

all goodness sacrificed,

to distant gods of war.

all I'm good for is planting,

and a hope that i grow.

-o0o-

Consequences

Living with the fallout,

is the hardest part of making the right decision.

I'm not happy here;

but I'll be damned rather than go back.

For all my fault and mistakes I am content;

let the carrion birds have the rest.

We will endure no fire that is not our own.

We will endure no scorn that we are not due.

~Consequences

by Charl Landsberg

-o0o-

haruspex

transphobes love demanding access

to trans bodies

playing haruspex with our corpses

telling of our imaged sins

crimes we might commit

if we are allowed to survive