The Trade

Two cannibals met late one night
In a darkened alleyway
They narrowed eyes suspiciously
And hurried on their way.

The next night, and the next again,
The crossed each other’s paths
And on the third they stopped to chat
(whilst standing safely far apart)

They spoke of
Scents and textures
Of the flesh of
Victims past

He mentioned he possessed
Delicacies rare
The fingers of a pianist,
A famous actor’s scalp and hair

The other too, she said she had
Some trophies to display
Things too special to devour;
With which she liked to play.

He said “I’ve had a great idea:
Why don’t we play a game?
A show and tell of things collected
From people that we’ve maimed.”

It was agreed, arranged
That both would come back the next night
With treasures in black bin bags
Which they’d tuck right out of sight.

They left with
Growling stomachs
And wide eyes
And greedy grins

The night came and so did the fiends
With binliners in tow
With much pride and ceremony
The first began the show.

They oohed and ahhed, like connoisseurs
Of bone and meat and flesh
And said which of the others’ favourite
Prizes were the best.

She liked, she said
The piece of skin
Tattooed with dolphins
Diving in

He took it from a sailor
Drunk and sleeping in a bar
He ate his arm in big, sharp bites
Except for that one part

Which now was in a small glass box
To show the artistry
A fleshy chunk of beauty
Showing angels of the sea.

He preferred, he purred and sneered
The bosom that she kept
A double D cup on a spike
That was set into cement

“I ate a lapdancer,”
She sighed, “but there was just too much.
I couldn’t eat the whole lot,
Could’ve done with going dutch.”

“Thought I’d save the breast
Til breakfast, but by then I realised
That I couldn’t face a second serving
Of something that size!”

“Let’s do a swap,” the first one smiled
of oddities we’ve tasted
it seems a shame to merely show-
an opportunity wasted.”

She nodded, eyes glued on the flesh
That bore the blue tattoo
“I’m bored of that breast anyway,
It’s time for something new.”

They leaned forward
With outstretched hands
And baited breath
And licking lips

She gave him this,
He gave her that
Their grisly trade was quickly made,
a simple case of 'tit for tat'!