I. 

Story box
wrapped in red.
Poetry package. 

II. 

Scroll and messenger in one,
rolled to us down Time’s
long, stony roads.

III. 

Loaf at our table
soaked in wine and blood.

IV.

Costly casket carrying

soldiers, ships, nymphs,
horses, lions, storms,
rivers, babies, bees,
altars, groves, swords,

new walls rising on the plain,
women hacked by grief.

V. 

Carved sarcophagus.

Stack of white skins
stained by Styx-black ink. 

Red wounds,
one thousand mouths
shouting our fury.