Michael
The description in this piece is outstanding -
"each weakening beat further apart" and ...."before he: raped the last breath from me" are both excellent lines and highly effective here.
As usual, a clever and original piece from you and one I will be nominating tomorrow!
All the very best,
Ben

Beautifully crafted, Michael.
To me this format seemed ideal for a romantic poem (did one some years back), but it also works well with this dark subject, haunting and melodramatic.

Well done!

(((hugs))) xx

This is very interesting to read, though I must say I had to read it quite a few times before I fully understood what you were trying to say. Wonderfully penned, great style choice - you pulled it off well. And I enjoyed reading this very thoroughly.

(Still a little speechless, will come back soon with a real comment.)