Rigid Man

Behind closed doors

Lanterns sway in pulsing dark

Though the body's near

Rigid man with soiled hands

Cannot touch, cannot feel

Between walls in narrow cell

Glaring light extinguished

Cover, tender scalp exposed

Rigid man falls to summons, red

Drained and weak

Flaccid body, bent in muddied gutter

No truth unwrung from its marrow cold

Begs for mercy, for cleansing holy death

Only broken may it pass

Into golden dawn

Forgiven