I Watched the Slaughter Film and Was Ejected From the Faith

For the love of everything good 
do not watch the slaughter film 
like an old-master painting it reaches in and twists 
I fell into walls within walls 
hammers and pliers at my face 
a hundred pounds of eyeballs fell with me 
rolled into One  
one great Eye that judged 
my eighteen brothers fell with me 
through the castle chute their intestines dropped 
then slithered back to life, found each other 
latched onto my legs and chewed 
because I watched the slaughter film  
no more happy little world 
I dozed on the Judas Wheel 
and understood why God won’t visit the Earth 
I lasted thirty-six years in the emperor’s vault 
if I could wash my brain with a scouring pad and bleach 
if I could delete my eye history 
centurions said “We have a present for thee 
a cutout of Mary Poppins to abide with thee” 
centurions said “We bring thee Newcastle honey” 
they covered me with honey funneled it into me 
after thirty-six years I fried in sunshine 
they called out to the flying-things of the empire 
to partake of my sweetness
a swarm rode to the castle turret  
my body became a thriving grey chain mail 
of ravenous flies and locusts 
for Mother Teresa’s sake do not watch  
I came unprepared to the slaughter film 
because I was just eleven years old it will break you please 
when the swarm was sated and most of my flesh devoured 
the emperor set me free 
they put me on a galleon to the extreme ice coast 
where I preach against the slaughter film 
to this day disciples reach out to the hands of my ears 
to this day they hold samples of my bones 

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Alejo Rovira Goldner left Spain to settle in Southern California where he also publishes under the name “Alex M. Frankel.” He’s been nominated for a Best of the Net and Pushcart Prize and his latest chapbook is So Many Mouths at the End of All Beauty.