four rooms

in the first room i heard rumors
fallow hints lay dormant in fertile premises
intricate lies were covered with praise
those led down the vociferous aisle
in splendor of silence before their demise
soon were cut down by tongues
that lashed their way
through an embryonic rearguard assault
that failed to defend what inklings were left
of faith, honesty and deliverance

in the second room were whispers
secrets trapped in frozen surmises
left whimpering in a hollow shell
the torment of those who were despised
broke through, broke right through
and then dispersed back down
into another's shame

in the third room were beasts
silent, ferocious, demonic
snarling with primal hate
bursting, dying to tear out my face
to devour the final salvation
that lay shackled in my breast

in the last room was a door
the same one we all came through
the same door
from which we will return

but somewhere in between the rumors,
somewhere amid the whispers and the beasts,
somewhere where nothing was there
there I unburdened myself of this fetid load
and I absolved myself of their gaze.