SCI-FI/FANTASY Poem: chosen, by Michael Tilbury

Fingers fish hooked
the corners of my mouth
pried my eyes open
by the lashes
and from my throat
died a curdled yelp

my body pushed backward through itself
into the chilled surface
fingernails bending
failing to grasp a hold
through the blending
white and purple lights

odious gray men
prodded me
tightened the straps
on my naked body
rocked
in gooseflesh

they shoved my gurney
in a white cylindrical chamber
humming and whirling
and bolted the hatch

I saw the flames
lick my body
the silhouettes
past my screaming
of the little men
wide eyed and cheering