her flesh peels back to reveal muscle and bone

dark liquid drips from her bloodied lips

her skin is darkened by flecks of mud and soil

she is the truth

barren and grisly as she is

the amount of light she sheds

upon us is almost

benevolent

as if her sharp fangs 

are not primed

to sink into our unprotected flesh

at any moment

forcing knowledge into us

that we 

most likely

do not want to know

shoving the bitter liquid down our throats

forcing us to swallow

with her dirtied hands

choking us with the weight

of the truth