As Ever Like the Sun & Moon at War

3- ☼☼ ☼ ☼☼

Our Pilgrim wakes to pain upon his palm

and draws it back before he opens eye

and sees a woman he can't recognize

whose bare of chest and quite unciviliz'd,

as she is of the cannibals who hold

him hostage in this place. But ere he asks

what's happen'd to his Spouse (his memory

doth end upon his hitting of his head

to lose control), he notices a salve

of sorts upon the fingertips of her                10

one hand that press'd in his before he drew

it back; at this he looks upon his palm

and sees the redden'd burn with crescent dark

upon his skin. The woman rises up,

departing from the room, whereat he finds

no longer doth he lie upon the stone,

but now a bed of skins of animals,

and at his side upon another mat

the Spouse is lying, still alive with breath.

He shakes her by the shoulder, whereto she                20

responds with open'd eyes and takes him in

her arms with words of worry over pots

of boiling water cooking them in stew

and mortal combat which he follows not,

but dothn't question, soothing her with pats,

despite the pain that surges through his hands.

It's during this a group of cannibals

now enter th'room with them and hold their palms

toward the two to show they bear no arms.

The one in front, upon our Pilgrim's nod                30

acknowledging their peace, then says these words:

"Th'events of yesternight have alter'd much;

the death of Chieftain sees us leaderless,

and so we turn to ye to guide us straight,

for we're a people led by only strength."

Our Pilgrim is confus'd by turn'd events,

but voices not the questions come to mind

o'er why their Chieftain's death should see them come

to hostages for leadership; instead

he says: "I'd like to know why thou and thine                40

have taken to consumption of the flesh

of fellow men instead of making food

as those within the village down below

produce to feed their population with,

for all this vi'lence only breeds a hate

between your brethren, whom you all should love