grossly sincere

When you grew needles,
Pricks protruding out from your spine,
You pierced delicate fingers with defensive feelers.

You transformed, unrecognizable,
A fierce baring of fangs, razor claws catching skin.

When the angels in uniforms came to take you away,
You clung to mangled flesh—afraid you’ve been caught,
Caught for a crime you didn’t commit, not really—
They imprisoned you in cold steel, white light shining into your eyes.

They took you away from me, blood mixed with spit,
Rabid joy in manic bursts, reflecting pools of dilated pupils.

You’ve been gone ever since,
And the “missing” posters I’ve plastered
over telephone poles all around town
return no calls.