I break sweat, not for the first time

as I bang my head against thick,

blackened and bloodied bars

that hold me back,

that resist my shakedown

as they rattle in the dirt

and concrete, small creatures scuttle

around my toes, feeling the chill,

feeling the draining perspiration

that runs down from the small

of my back

and I sweat and I howl

against the only light

in the bludgeoning room,

my tomb self made,

one exit,

no idea how I found myself here