As Ever Like the Sun & Moon at War

3- ☾☾ ☾☾

They're closer, closer, spears are drawing in

to force our duo in boiling pot;

they're back'd into the ladder propp'd against

the metal cauldron's side, which here they climb

one step per time, whilst spears are pointed up,

preventing them from jumping, lest they land

impaled on their spikes, until the two

are balanc'd on the steaming cauldron's edge,

which—floating in its pool—contains the meats                10

of other animals of smaller kinds,

but nothing much compar'd to numbers which

must feast upon this meal, causing our

Pariah's mind to wonder how they eat

when there is not a captive to provide

the cauldron with a more substantial meat.

The Spouse's cry resurfaces his thoughts,

and out he reaches, grasping at her form

before her toppled balance plunges her

within the boiling stew below their feet.                20

The shouting cannibals are cheering with

excitement and anticipation's joy

whilst drawing closer still with pointed spears,

now climbing up the ladder, holding forth

the tip to force the two inside the pot

and singing supper's song so ravenous:

"We've two tonight to satisfy and slake

our bellies torturing us with their aches

that never end from time that first we wake

to when we meet our ultimate of fates,                30

for food is scarce within this mountain range

so steep with desert doth it drive insane

the any man who suffers hunger's pangs

and can not find the food to end his pain;

it's this and, by the village, our defeat

that turn'd us t'ward humanity to eat,

for though it may be sick'ning to believe

we're made the same as animals of meat!

So jump into the cauldron—worry not;

the water bubbles, boiling ever hot.                40

You'll burn and die before a second thought

can cross your minds; now get into the pot!"

The javelins are thrust so near to them;

Pariah grips the shaft of closest one

and yanks it from its prodding owner's grasp

ere turning back the point upon the crowd

which now replaces th'one unarm'd with next,