Great Corpse

I swim where it bites

my family atop the back
joined by
a mass of people

each person holding a rope
ropes twisted in knots
leading to the head

the people pull the ropes
steering the ancient relic

wrought using the swords
rusted by oxygen rich blood

endless iron bones

a heart pumped
with greedy power

a mind baptized by
ideas written in
decaying scrolls

my family steers
the rusty teeth
in my direction

they watched in terror
when I cut my rope
and plunged into the deep

many others
also steer
in my direction

I am —
transgender woman

come

open the trembling mouth

eat me

for I am poison