Don’t you want a reason to kill sometimes?
Don’t you want a reason to kill sometimes?
To put on a mask and grab a butcher knife?
To put on a mask and grab a butcher knife?
Don’t you grab a knife and kill sometimes?
Want to put on a mask, to butcher reason?
You were just a boy who then hurt another.
You were just a boy who then hurt another.
You couldn’t help yourself.
You couldn’t help yourself.
Another couldn’t help you then.
You were just yourself, a boy who hurt.
Once you split flesh you can never go back.
Once you split flesh you can never go back.
You need to learn that the hard way.
You need to learn that the hard way.
You can never go back the way you need to.
Split flesh hard once you learn that.
You learn to split flesh the way you mask a hurt:
grab a knife to butcher. Can you help that?
Sometimes you were an other who couldn’t kill.
You don’t want to put yourself back.
Just once, then, go on hard.
You never need a reason, boy.
About the Author
Emily Rose Miller (they/she) graduated magna cum laude from Saint Leo University in 2020 with their BA in English and is currently earning her MFA in poetry at the University of Central Florida. Their work has been published in Saw Palm, Wild Roof Journal, and Passengers Press, among other places. Find her online at emilyrosemiller.com, on Instagram @emily.rose.miller, or in real life cuddling with her cats.
About the Artist
Viggo Krejberg is a 22 Year Old Chicago based Artist and Animator. He attributes his work to being heavily inspired by artists such as Junji Ito, Bryan Lee O'Malley, and Ian Worthington. Updates on his art & current projects can be found on his Twitter @VKrejberg.
© 2024 MYSTIC OWL MAGAZINE