i Am byzantium by W. F. Holden

i AM byzantium

In Memory of Geniveve Sweeny

i know now that
Each breath is only wasted–and
it is gone again.
inhale the poison–the rock grinder
This is mirthless life that we now make ourselves

an exhale of life. the alchemy is gone again.
all castes are drowned.
the wolves, eagles, and sheep alike all are reduced
to bones. breathe in dust of mummies
breathe in from the temple by the ears–breathe steel
oxygenate, now, with hatred. There is nothing: that,
we make ourselves

the inhale of friction, together now,
the exhale is waiting. come!
the exhale is here–in the temple
and the chest, let us exhale silence!
let us exhale exile and cunning! and
so I tell you once again,
i AM byzantium.

{Poem by W. F. Holden}