Work Text:
Lin Shu
you lie; in agony on the blood-soaked snow
you had fire in your heart.
you were a soldier once,
do you remember?
you died.
you do not yet understand
how it will change you
be glad,
you will find out
open your eyes.
destruction is all you can see
a battlefield,
bloody lips and broken skin
a corpse, speaking. we know you
we know you will try.
dream.
within the confines of your mind,
avenge with your blade
the ghosts all around you.
close your eyes
this rage beneath your skin
the monster you’ve become
it’s a promise.
all this pain you’ve endured
someday it will end
the spirits of the dead hold you up in their arms
freezing wind blowing on your exposed skin.
for them
you will stay
you will live.
Mei Changsu
you lie; on your back unable to breathe
illness does not suit you
but it is the choice you made.
bones ground to dust, skin flayed apart
you survived.
the price you paid for this reprieve:
your face, your health, your self.
they will tell you, averting their eyes
that it was too high.
rise
from your bed; it has become
a prison.
this body no longer yours
will fail to achieve your goal.
find another way.
plan
the rise and fall of empires
the death of thousands.
the next day, repent
start over.
the poison in your veins
slowly kills you
you will keep it to yourself:
it will be over soon
just as it began.
the embraces of the living are nothing but
the scattered ashes of broken promises.
alone
you will wait
you will die.
Lin Shu / Mei Changsu
you lie; in agony on the blood-soaked snow / you lie; on your back unable to breathe
you had fire in your heart. / illness does not suit you
you were a soldier once, / but it is the choice you made.
do you remember? / bones ground to dust, skin flayed apart
you died. / you survived.
you do not yet understand / the price you paid for this reprieve:
how it will change you / your face, your health, your self.
be glad, / they will tell you, averting their eyes
you will find out / that it was too high.
open your eyes. / rise
destruction is all you can see / from your bed; it has become
a battlefield, / a prison.
bloody lips and broken skin / this body no longer yours
a corpse, speaking. we know you / will fail to achieve your goal.
we know you will try. / find another way.
dream. / plan
within the confines of your mind, / the rise and fall of empires
avenge with your blade / the death of thousands.
the ghosts all around you. / the next day, repent
close your eyes / start over.
this rage beneath your skin / the poison in your veins
the monster you’ve become / slowly kills you
it’s a promise. / you will keep it to yourself:
all this pain you’ve endured / it will be over soon
someday it will end / just as it began.
the spirits of the dead hold you up in their arms / the embraces of the living are nothing but
freezing wind blowing on your exposed skin. / the scattered ashes of broken promises.
for them / alone
you will stay / you will wait
you will live. / you will die.