But I only felt it once
First, a soft touch like a pat on my shoulder
And then an itch begging me to scratch
Followed a boring prick that left me burning in pain and discomfort
I felt my heart pounding faster and faster as the little creature steadily hummed close to my body
And with its wings wafting a cool little blow as though to calm me of its own sting.
I did not know where I was, and my legs could not move an inch
All I knew at the instance was that I was alone and going to stop living
Then suddenly I was down, and all movement stopped like an occluded car engine.
The roof of my mouth was dry, I could not swallow
Every breath of hot air into my lungs robbed more water from my dry self
They called it The Sting of Life, for not one of the hundreds that were stung yet drew breath.
So, I gagged. First with quick successions, then slowly, I was in deep sleep
‘’It is going to be the loneliest death of all,’’ I thought
I could feel air leaving my lungs and none being drawn in
I could feel my heart slowly fading and beating tardily
I tasted salt in my tongue, and then pepper, and then soil, and then there was darkness.
In the darkness I could see some light, and a silhouette of a woman’s figure!
Oh, my joys, the joys I had nursed so warmly
I felt my lips move as though to smile at her, holding a lantern to my face
I could see her, but I could not see me, and her eyes widened with zeal and anticipation
I wanted to speak to her, but no words came off my mouth
And I wanted to touch her, and ask her where I was at
She was a beauty to reckon!
Here we lie, without life, for we chose not to live
Because we had much shame to let live
Here we lie, stung to death, losing time and chance
But I would rather be here with the love that hears my skin tingling
Than live a shame.
Here where we wander freely and without purpose nor expectation
Here where there is darkness, but we can light a lantern to see each other
Here where we were stung to.
Dunca9n 