The Sinking

He was a good man

who feared the hag

but the witch whispered

things to his heart that

nestled there in a

dark recess, things

his wife fanned warm

till he gripped the knife

and overcame his fear

of the witch and death

and God and blood, so

he did the deed, and with

his hands stained red he

donned the crown and

he killed his enemies,

he killed his friend,

and all the while the

dark closed in on

his shadowed heart

so he sought the witch

he once had feared,

and she cast strange

things into her pot,

dog’s tongue, baby finger,

baboon’s blood,

and he asked, “What

is it that you do?”

and she answered,

A deed without a name,

and he stood with the witch

and watched.