Finis

A sound-loop hangs from the white gallows of the page:

letter j strung up,

the crook of her foot postmortem—

leg sway.

Mouth retches

a vowel round o

then from the roof

gasps a dark l slung.

Is not innocent:

the i with a white noose

also around his neck,

blindfolded, asphyxiated.

Spaces within words are miniature knots

that suspend letters—

the paper

always tightening.