Catacomb Kittens

She spent the night alone with body bruised and skirts

asunder.

He found his sister in the morning, soaking, in a

puddle.

"Let's run away," she said. "He beats us both

incessantly!

I know a place beneath the city where we'll stay

forever lost!"

"I've seen the waifs emerge from the underground.

They roam the catacombs and everywhere underneath...

We could live secretly, away from society!"

Away after sunset they tumbled through the darkened

city

searching for cold grates and bars agape

like twisted teeth and jawbones pulled wide and

cracking.

Wet and talking wind forbade them!

"Just shut your ears," she said.

"Orphans are surrounded by these things!"

"Hold my hand, I'll lead you below.

We'll find an alcove and no one will know about us!

We can live secretly, away from society!"

They wet their tiny kitten paws on rotting rocks and

water.

They skinned their whiskers digging deep

where darkness settles into corners and tooth-marks,

sightless eyes and sunken ceilings.

Sentient depths awoke and noticed them...

they started screaming.

"Let's hurry back," she said, "before we are swallowed!

Run now, my darling child, I'll be sure to follow

closely!

We must hide desperately, away from monstrosities!"

Next week, next year,

there is a somebody who hears their feet underneath.

They stop, and tilt, and frown... they hear them

drowning!

No, the wind singing just below the street...

"You're here with me, it's just we two.

So if you've died, why, then I have, too!"