A miserable stain
morose and deadly upon the world
full of terror and beauty
secure in its awe
filled with love
blasting the skin from all who approach
at once it is engine
and creator
and bard
at once it is flayer
and eater of organs
burning the flesh of helpless innocents
it is lover and balm
it is a jagged blast of searing nails
and who but itself
can stand in its presence?