ghosts in the graveyards
sharks in the shallows
and my sword can barely cleave the air
long ago my master told me
there will be birds who know you by name
not a one of them can be trusted
so as the twittering rained upon my shield
i withdrew
takes an effort these days
just to exhale
for fear of being overheard
and the cadence of my existence mismeasured
i've been sharpening my steel
for the sake of rebuttal