Stitches seep across burnt skin
wounds that weep ounce sewing pins
sinew shapes turn sutured tracks
along yellow shoulders, down purple back

Green flesh cluttered, bruised by ink
glimmering in bronze it starts to sink
red clumps of hair arranged in nines
blink blankly between veinal vines

Joints turned to crack obediently rise
and lurch apart with tremorous cries
caloussed trenches tinged with grey
hungrily yearn for the end of day

but while light basks the lips
of patchwork lands
stitches pop from the body
held in shaking hands