Counting cream wall buttons again
and listening to silver timeless rain
through a chrome ventilator grille
broken and showering purpled pain .

Smelling blood in the air invisible
cooking up a little yellow fright
cowering cornered and derisible
waiting for the animal to bite .

Codex lovers pass the only gap
walking on Zondercommando legs
cudgels crack the marrow leak the pap
and teeth are pulled like crackling pegs .

Volley the dirty birthing scream
listen to the voices in the head
razor-wire shadowed in the passing beam
and grainy photos of the living dead .

Document all atrocity without favour
for fear of what is left of ebbing life
bury hope at the entrance to the chamber
as meaningful events go flashing by .

And it's fend for yourself in the nation
on the coat-tails of Obama's grand tour
stirred up by the hand of delegation
crushed by the pleas of the poor .

Kill me but please let the baby live
in this mess of newly tangled rights
in the final hours there must have been many what if's
and the Broadmoor siren keeps me awake at night .