Slay the Lamb

standing alone
in an empty room
nothing here
save the mirror in front of me
cob-web draped
like a fine lace
walking forward
i wipe away
the spidery traces
of time's ancient brush
and ages old dust
just behind the darkened pane
a childs' hand matches mine
an enshadowed face
rises to face me
brown eyes behind coke-bottle lenses
under a dark mop of curls
a younger version of me
staring out at me
begging, pleading
spoken, but unheard
lips move, but i cannot read
in the shadows' darkened pool
a menace swims up behind
knotted fingers gripping my younger face
chewn-down nails
gripping my younger throat
a small lips quivers
eyes opened wide in fear
tears roll down
small brown cheeks
left hand melted to the glass
i shout and scream
right fist beating
like my pounding heart
against the glass as tears start to roll
shadowed hands
gripping my younger throat
nails sink into flesh
sure as jagged teeth
red life flowing over
white knuckles straining
little arms fall limp
little legs buckle
my younger me
sags beneath
tears and life
the little body falls limp
falling to my knees
into a crimson sea
jaw clenched
looking up
at the bloody handed mirror
blood drips from finger-tips
like the tears
past my lips
standing
palms to the glass
resting
forehead to the pane
breathing slowly
trying to forget
trying to let the pain pass
stepping back
bloody handprints
like a crimson butterfly
paint the glass
looking down at
red dripping hands
the shadow raises its face
i quake in horror
a wicked smile breaks
a devils' grin
parts a familiar face
and i slowly realize
as i recognize
that it's just me
staring back at me
as i killed my own innocence