that atrophy stings
but spawns but a leech.
his punctured skin, it
splinters that of bone, pierced
as the blood oxidises-
a meal, once fulfilled,
a toxin, when digestion begins

and emaciated in breath,
its decay has stroked its mind
to replace intention
with hunger

the leech did not ask for its teeth
but it eats all the same
its mutualism has become a crutch