Van Helsing Makes Amends

Van Helsing Makes Amends

Van Helsing unfastened the coffin lid,
peeled the crucifix from the bone-white brow.
pulled the garlic from the rust-flecked mouth,
careful not to touch the teeth.
He stitched back on the severed head,
and he blotted up evidence of Holy Water,
and, full of care, heaved free the hammer-frayed stake,
like Excalibur from the nameless stone.

Then rolling up his sleeves, he said:

“Now here comes the hard part.”

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