Their tongues
death-gripped, defiance-tipped
their bitter drips spit from mouth 
and lips 
and rip 
His skipping heart 
to beating bits

His bated breath, air gasped
a raspy last,
soon passed.

They raise a glass in spirit's grasp
poison gulped 'spite His everlasting 
hope 
they won't.
'Please don't,
I wrote 
thy precious name in precious blood'
On splintered wood, love, jeweled
spilled
from burning chest,
rubied breast,
hard-pressed 
for breath 
'til Death smiled
And Time whiled

Once. Twice.
Thrice...