Kairosclerosis ✔ [poetry]

slaughter

18

SLAUGHTER

⸻

when you grow older,

you'll understand,

how they murder

kill off the best of you,

so only the worst

left behind.

when you grow older, you'll understand.

how they murder the strongest men

in endless wars,

and pointless battles.

in desolated oil rigs

and dark tunnelling mines.

when you grow older, you'll understand.

how they murder the bravest boys

in those long drives

on the monotonous roads,

in those lonely nights

at greasy fast-food diners.

when you grow older, you'll understand.

how they murder the kindest women

in these broken families

that were never meant to be,

in shattered faith

they once held dear.

when you grow older, you'll understand.

how they murder the gentlest girls

in open psych-ops warfares,

and cruel social media algorithms.

in tracking devices

found in their purse,

in ideologies

they yet to nurture.

when you grow older,

you'll understand:

the pretty revolutionary tales they spin,

and the cold-blooded justice they offer,

the dangerous discontent they sow,

and the gripping safety they bestow,

will be how

they can murder

hundreds,

thousands,

millions.

years after years,

decades after decades,

centuries after centuries.

yet you'll never see

dried blood caked thick, like dead rinds

on their pristine, manicured hands.

or smell

their bloody gilded jewels,

and diamond clothes.

the same way you'll never hear

the cries of the dead embedded

in their smiles and lies.

or feel

the sheer apathy in their sweet monologues,

and the dismissive disdain in their eyes.

oh. but once you've grown older,

you'll understand

how you forget.

you'll grow older and never understand

how they tear you apart

and rip you off,

and hang you dry,

over and

over and

over

again.

never remember

how they murder the strongest and kindest

in you.