Kenneth Van Hecke

When your bodies silhouette is painted in sweat on your sheets.
When you wake in the middle of the night to see a stranger by your bed.
When you spill more water down the side of your face,
than you could ever get in your mouth.

When your body becomes accustomed to the taste of its bile.
When you turn away from everything that is important in life.
When you hear music so loud you can sing all the lyrics,
coming from the air conditioner.

A scream, a horrendous, blood curdling scream.
A scream, a scream so loud it could never be heard,
screaming for one more chance.

I cut off the head of a cockroach,
and the damn thing didn't even die.
It ran round and round in a little ring,
Thinking it was somehow going to survive.
Buddhists would say that's your granpa,
Whom I decapitated just for the thrill.
I just can't believe the stamina,
Of this bug I just tried to kill.
Like a Ferris wheel at the carnival,
Or bumper car at the county fair,
It kept on going round and round,
trying to go to who knows where.
And when that inevitable day arrives,
When man has destroyed everything.
I have no doubt in my mind,
who'll be watching who, running round
and round in a ring.

Do so little to cause such sorrow,
One of life's disgusting torments.
Wilted flowers on the window sill,
Brown dirt where grass should be.
Black clouds fill up the heavens,
Swaying to the synchronized motion.
Processions come and go,
Half-mast symbols stuck in the mist.
Worms slithering in their putrid slime,
Beady eyed little maggots.
Root rot fills the atmosphere,
So bad you can't smell the roses.
Attached to cards arriving by the ton.
Black is black, so very dark.
As comfortable as can be,
Unheard crying fades the somber smiles.
Grass needs cutting on the mound,
Crooked pictures on the wall.
More leaves are blowing in the wind.

Flip
Flop

Plip
Plop

Clip
Clop

Heel Down / Flat Foot / Toe Off

Swish
Swoosh

Tip
Tap

Squish
Squash

Early Phase / Middle Phase / Late Phase

Accel
Decel

Shimmer
Shuffle

Wiggle

Walk

When you stub your toe how long does the signal take to reach your brain?
Or when you bite your tongue how fast is the scream?
When is the paper cut on your finger first felt?
Excruciating pain in just an instant.

When do you feel the prick of a needle on your arm?
How soon do you respond to a slap on your face?
How quickly does the pain arrive when you cut yourself shaving?
Excruciating pain in just an instant.

How quick is the pain of a knife slicing through your chest?
When is the bullet felt as it pierces your skin?
How fast do you feel every nerve in your body during decapitation?
Excruciating pain in just an instant.

Instant death, I don't think so.