b o o k s | " t h i n k i n g a b o u t d e a t h o n a w a l k i n t h e f o r e s t "
imagining one's death: the heart stopping: no breath: the circulation stopping: the muscles relaxing: the skin succumbing to gravity: the skin growing pale: blood settling in parts of the body closest to the ground: capillaries draining into larger veins: the exposed surface of the body radiating heat: blood leaking through the walls of the vessels to stain the interstitial tissues: blue red purple-red blotches on the skin merging to form large areas of discoloration: a scattering of purple-black haemorrhages: the pooled blood fixing: the small muscles of the eyelids beginning to stiffen: the neck the lower jaw: the stiffness spreading to the joints of the body: the muscles of the interior organs: the walls of the heart: a discharge of seminal fluid at the glans penis: the fingers the toes flexing as the muscles of the forearms the legs shorten: the muscles relaxing again: a greenish discoloration appearing on the lower right abdomen: spreading over the abdomen the chest the upper thighs: the body beginning to putrefy as soft tissues turn to gases liquids & salts through the action of bacteria & enzymes: blowflies & other carrion insects arriving: maggots hatching: feeding on the body's tissues: the trunk & limbs swollen: hydrogen sulphide & methane & carbon dioxide & ammonia in the stomach & intestines causing the abdomen to distend: the face appearing bloated: the eyelids tightly closed: the cheeks puffed out: the lips pouting: the distended tongue protruding from the mouth: putrid bloodstained fluid purging from the nose the mouth the vagina: from the rectum mixed with faeces: the skin glistening reddish-green to purple-black: the network of the superficial veins of the skin becoming visible: the surface of the skin covered with blood-tinged blisters: tissues becoming frothy: the brain liquefying: the dark red lungs crumbling easily: the skin slipping off the body to show a shiny moist pink base: the fingernails & toenails detaching: hair on the head & body coming loose at the roots: falling out in large clumps: putrid gases under pressure finding an outlet: the body rupturing: the mass of decomposing tissues collapsing: gases & fluids purging into the surroundings: the putrefactive juices draining away or drying up: soft tissues shrinking: vegetation dying around the carcass: only dry parchment-like skin & cartilage & the bones of the skeleton remaining: the soil showing an increase in carbon phosphorous potassium calcium & magnesium: acids in the soil dissolving the skeleton: no trace of the organism: imagining one's death one's self is still in the picture: