the star chamber

by Jesse s mitchell

illustrated by rhoda penmarq

The Star Chamber Midnight bloom that is called the moon, It didn’t come from a flower  And it didn’t come from seed. Great big bloom they made the moon, But it didn’t come from fire And it didn’t come from seed, It came from a wound and it needs to bleed. (forever and forever and forever and forever) It sits on top of me, above me  Like a crown, A crown of tiny little flames, So only Moses knows And I can’t read, I can’t read a word. And it comes down like gravel, rockslide And lets the water in Mara mara, Bitter water in, And it makes something sinister of the sounds The spiral and twist on my lips, (forever and forever and forever and forever) Oh oleander, oleander, nerium oleander, toxic in all its parts, Oh Leander, Leander, guided by light Drown to death seeking a Hero. Toxic in its parts. Sunrise bites holes in the sky, great giant holes The Sunshine eats holes in sky, Perforated from the Earth it tears away… So easily, wrapped in a blanket Filled with hot coals, Burn your lips,  Go fly with the birds, Perforated and torn. (forever and forever and forever and forever) Oh oleander, oleander, nerium oleander, toxic in all its parts, Oh Leander, Leander, guided by light Drown to death seeking a Hero. Toxic in its parts, But it didn’t come from fire And it didn’t come from seed, It came from a wound and it needs to bleed.