ECSTASY

By Patrick Julian Hunter

I had been fascinated by the idea

of seeing my innards for years,

and finally mustered up the courage

to do the inevitable.

I began by filleting my sides

with slow, careful cuts—

to grasp the meat

and begin the laborious task of

peeling

and

pulling the flesh,

working inch by inch

until I had the desired effect.

Once completed, I stitched

myself a Saran Wrap suit

to hold everything in place

and keep the alley cats

from licking the vital parts.

Oh, the ecstasy of it all,

strutting around my neighbourhood

with the real me fully exposed.

I felt like a peacock fanning out

my highly elongated tail feathers.

I was proud of my accomplishment,

but noticed people were not

reacting as I thought they would.

Sadly, I was forced to wear

a long black trench coat

to cover my joy—if only to keep them

from pointing and crying in revulsion.

After several days, I noticed

I was leaking a

sanguineous ooze

which began to stink.

I knew I had a choice: to undo what I’d done,

or lay down and enjoy my

last few hours in total bliss.

I chose the latter

and drifted away

into a waking dream,

fully aware,

fully myself,

fully at peace,

with what I had done.

#DarkPoetsClub