salt, skull, skin

[wanttobeatree]

Light is creeping out the edges, into night,
and with the moonrise comes the scent of blood.
You have your holy words, your flames and salt,
the rumble of your engine solid as the gun
already in your hand. I can see your skull
from here, love; I can taste the fear in your skin.

Oh, you can keep your secrets wrapped in skin,
brave boy. Where’s your brother in the night?
Is he all alone? I could crush his skull,
and yours too, but hush-- I’m not here for blood.
Not yours. (Not yet.) Keep your bullets in your gun,
hiding in the shadows like I can’t taste the salt

inside your bones; but I won’t cross your salt
circles. You can keep her and her pretty skin,
o hunter hero with your daddy’s gun.
This is my time to shine, here in the night.
Come now, I won’t bite. Just want a taste of blood;
just want to see inside your precious skull.

No, love? Then I’ll just take her skull
instead. You can bless yourselves and play with salt
until the crows come home, until your blood
runs cold. I’m coming. I’m creeping up your skin.
I’m the voices in the shadows when it’s night,
the breath on Sammy’s neck when he has no gun.

Where’s your brother, Deano? Did he keep the gun
you hid? I know you wonder what’s in his skull,
to make him leave you alone in the night,
like mommy and daddy. I’ll lick the salt
from your sweet face, love, taste what’s in your skin
that made his distance thicker than your blood.

Give me her skin and I’ll bring you his blood.
I know your night-time secrets, so drop your gun,
and take his skull, sweetheart, with a pinch of salt.