A Terrible Sound

The children

They scream.

And what a terrible noise.

All the more cruel

when you know

their protectors

brought them pain.

And the adults

they scream too.

Fingers pointing,

and what a terrible noise.

We drown

in the terrible scream

like a snake

eating its own tail —

a sound that devours

head,

heart,

and soul.

The children

they are now silent.

The adults

claim no more words.

And what a terrible noise.

The snake

has finished its last meal.

The head keeps biting.