Tristan Robert Lange

Exsanguination Nation

Death holds indomitable sway over us all;

Beware: an axe swings where feet never tread.

Like a winding river through pale, tall grass—

Death’s indomitable sway looming over us—

A snake lies lifeless bleeding crimson ooze

From opened arteries of attrition.

Wistful like a river through pale, tall grass—

Death’s unsubduable sway lurching over all—

The serpent oozing in oscillations.

A snake lies lifeless bleeding crimson thick

From opened arteries fast accosted—

Death’s unsubduable grasp is strangling us all—

Wistful like a river through pale, tall grass,

The serpent spraying in oscillations.

Lo! Above! A great bird—eagle—soaring wing span.

The snake still lifeless bleeding crimson quick

From opened arteries fast dissected—

Death’s unsubduable grip is crushing us all—

Woeful like a river through dead, tall grass;

Serpent still squirting in oscillations.

Down from the sky descending with great speed,

Savior? Above! A great eagle—bald—killer wing span.

Sectioned snake wiggles, bleeding crimson blood

From opened arteries, hatchet-severed—

Woeful like a river through dead, tall grass,

Snake blood still spurts out in oscillations;

Death’s unstoppable power oppresses us all.

That’s no eagle savior—nay, a turkey buzzard

Descending down from the sky with great speed.

Sectioned snake seen gushing a crimson flood

From butchered arteries, sharp axe-severed—

Thrillful like a river through tall field grass,

Snake blood alerts out in oscillations.

Death’s indomitable jaws swallow us all—

Truth: an axe swings where feet will never tread.

© 2025 Tristan Robert Lange. All rights reserved.

Originally published on tristanrobertlange.com, September 13, 2025

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