Arachne

She lives inside me now:

crotched beneath my surface..

poised to pounce..

poised to scrape me raw

at the least hint of a suggestion.

Teased mane; the lioness

laden with false eyes and

and painted lips: uttering

her metaphors as she

gathers her victims.

All hapless souls ; eager,

so eager to suck her youth dry

They thrive on the mock flattery

These hollow men : her slaves

as she spins the Web

around them.

All fall down.

All fall down.

Raw and gaping.

She awaits an errant word

any farfetched reminder of

your indiscretions,

misconceptions

venial and mortal sins…

She lingers; now anxious

to open my cancerous

scars…

This flesh will endure.

They  only killed my soul.

C Reilly 11/2013