take a knee and scream

we follow the flames in the cans from the road to the open space behind the art school. they want to build a sports ground here. a little too much tax to spare. I watch each breath leave my mouth in clouds. fog on my lips and ice in my lungs. from the curb I follow the distant hum of a choir into the church of my subconscious. the hymn distils with my approach: a hundred shameless screams of strangers knelt before a neon altar in the dark. a national anthem we all know but never have the chance to sing. somewhat of a symphony; the sound of collective catharsis. a beautiful shriek of unsung demons exorcised before the moon. a chance to drop the mask and kick the boulder down the hill. I’ve dreamt of this - permission to scream into forever - since I first met myself. I curse my burning throat and wish that I could join the choir. would you want to do the same? would you ever scream for me?