Right of Passage

By Elmast Kozloyan

I wanted to kill himso I did
It seemed like the rite thing to do
I stretched his limbs
Tied them down
to pointNorth

West       East

SouthI burned his right arm
Froze his left leg
then amputated
just shy of living flesh
Continued this pattern
until he could take no more
sage burned
blood shed
sob-blinded
It was better he did not see
I carved out his heart
snipped a lock of hair
and placed them in a silver case
Disposed of the remains
and went to bed

I don’t have time for boys anyway