Death Of Loyalty (Benevolent Scavengers) Poem by Samah Khan

They stopped fighting over my soul one day-
Those alley cats I called friends, picking at my bones,
Benevolent scavengers who knew that the kindest thing to do
Would be to dismember me from the inside out
And I thanked them while they clawed at my heart,
Moaning, “That hit the spot”.

What are we but slabs of throbbing flesh, I reasoned
As they asked me if it was time to stop.
I said, no-for I was not content, though they were round-bellied
From the meal they had made of what was left of me-
Misusing my vulnerability, using it as a gateway to get past my brain
And make their way into the little parts that I thought never mattered:
Trust, loyalty, dignity and love- all of which I saw digested and defecated
Right before my eyes.