Prison of Leather

{{#ifeq: | | {{#ifeq: Justin S. (Whiteflame) | |

   {{#ifeq: Whiteflame | || 
     Author: Whiteflame  
   }} | 
   {{#ifeq: Whiteflame | |
     Author: Justin S. (Whiteflame) |
     Author: Justin S. (Whiteflame)  
   }}
 }} |
 {{#ifeq: Justin S. (Whiteflame) | |
   {{#ifeq: Whiteflame | | Authors: ' | 
     Authors: Whiteflame 
   }} | 
   {{#ifeq: Whiteflame | |
     Authors: Justin S. (Whiteflame) |
     Author: Justin S. (Whiteflame) 
   }}
 }}

}} {{#if:| — see also [[:Category:{{{category}}}|other works by this author]]}}

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<poem> I can taste the metal Upon my tongue, and in My velvet gums. Its bitter tinge stings the senses Yet dulls them. I feel...compelled, Compelled to obey, yet I do not want to.

He tugs at the rope and the metal Cuts me, my lips bleed red, And spot the earth with dots of scarlet Upon the grass. He tugs harder as the bar sinks further into my gums, stretching them, Contorting them, Aggravating me, Yet I am compelled.

I imagine myself pulling the Wretched thing off, but it has merged with my long head, And I, I lack the ability To remove my torment, the bridle.

He runs me until my Lungs sear with crimson heat, A dripple of blood rolls down My nose, out of my flaring nostrils, And into my mouth, Where I taste the bitterness and burning salt Of my own life. A single tear rolls down from my Eye, but it disappears unnoticed into My coarse hair, The last tear of a humanity fading.

I once was a man, But now I am beaten and whipped, His leather boots bruise my flanks, His thighs bruise my ribs. All perceptions of the past are gone.

Why does he torment me so? I am him, he is me, I am just covered in sorrel hair. Yet, his vicious gaze Ever looks down upon me. Maybe if he knew I once was human, He could find some compassion in his... I cannot tell him, All human speech evades me, All letters are gone, I am a horse. </poem>

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