- Jenna Johnson
The Division of Wolfe
by Jenna Johnson
Inspired by "The Death of General Wolfe" (1770) by Benjamin West
Here lies the death of Wolfe
he, who was living, is now dead
surrounded by the soldiers
who kneel, who watch
his soul slowly slip from his lips
cocked sideways, a choked sad smile
half-parted, plump red flesh
more of a faint orange tint now
hid mind dangles helplessly between consciousness
and the clouds above that haunt and hover
that watch him wither away
death fights with his teeth and tongue
it mingles in the crevasses of Wolfe's throat
letting him drown in his vile saliva, open-mouthed
death rests in his mouth, then steals his last breath
in a sudden, velvety scream
Leaving his crimson suit behind
to fall into an outstretched embrace
limp and light, his body sits
while his mind floats like dust into the gray sky
to disappear like the rest