to the slaughter

Within the sheets I face defeat
for my enemies know me.
It begins beneath my knees for I am weak.
The first to make me see
was not the worst to cross that sea
and such a simple thing to be cutting teeth.
With no lungs it still breaths
and forces smiles long to leave
even the down hill slope is perilous when steep.
When time awakens sleep
the flesh will be my sheath
For only selfish reasons does the shepherd save the sheep.