The face of a false prophet

Carved into my mother's spine

He's telling me this mountain was my birthright

He's telling me I'm a good little boy

For keeping my mouth shut

In the valley of the shadow of death

Is manifest destiny's glowing ground zero

I'm watching it shiver with moths

Like a hand about to strike

This is what fear looks like

When the question shifts from if to when

And are you even listening?

I taste blood on my tongue

I taste blood on my tongue

I taste blood on my tongue

I taste blood on my tongue

Time to clean my wounds in the river

Sending my body down