I

Twenty singular tally etches lay embedded in the cellar wall,
Nineteen full days passed since my status made its fall,
Eighteen or so other mates lay around me all wretched like thralls
Seventeen or so feet into the air yet the walls still feel small

Sixteen knights once sat at the table including me
Fifteen swords in their hands that had accused me
Fourteen days ago the lies and corruption all made sense to me
Thirteen days later I left and betrayal all were sentenced to me

TWELVE CUTS AND A FIGHT
ELEVEN PLEAS FOR MY RIGHTS
TEN ROPES ALONG MY WRISTS
NINE TEARS IN MY SQUINTS!

...

Eight meals I have only been given
Seven days or less I can only live in
Six walls of stone now closing in on me
Five names of men who swore they'd set me free

Four scars remain from what they did to me
Three words uttered: “Please let me be”
Two eyes stare back at me in the dark
One final breath, then silence leaves its mark