Believed to be a better

from the worst that passed through

like webs to a monster.

Bitter to your touch,

needing that touch,

sweet to the lips.

I need that monster.

Sweeps the terror into her

mouth and carries it away.

I love that monster.

Teeth barring on my shadow,

howling under the sheets,

digging her claws into open back.

I want that monster.

 

Watched the day

turn

night in minutes.

The silent red ash

brushed the delicate blue

aside like

a single hair above her brow,

Single stars break through

the quiet times

of a peaceful

storm chasing the day.

I believe in what you told me,

on that stormy Monday,

crying 

that it was

a shared dream.

Nightmare turned

tears of joy,

down my chest,

into my life.

Hand in hand,

to jump together,

in a puddle of

us.

Where did you go?

So soon

So soon

gone.

Go on,

go long.

Why the long face,

why run the long trace.

Trace the outer way

of this long space.

Go on,

go on and go

long.

Run along go

play in 

space.

I found myself sitting

waiting for each note,

like the drum breakdown,

In the Air Tonight.

Stringing the guitar

the birds chirped outside

singing about my weak grasp

on my own humanity.

They can hold a note,

I’ll give them that.

There throwing

it in my face.

Close the blinds,

pray for the power

to control my own

and finish what they started.

I heard them creeping at night,

the monster underneath your bed,

you saw it in the mirror

in your coffee in the morning

in the eyes of your lover you left in bed.

Its crippling;

but you can’t park in that close spot

someone won’t push you around

this time.

The monster follows you around at work

hates the clothes on your back

the food that you eat

the women your loving

the women your fucking.

Wish you could tell this beast to fuck off

pick on someone your own size,

but it doesn’t exist.

In ones and twos, we lined up to see

when you started, on your own two feet.

The time has come, in threes and fours

to play the game, for less and more.

The stadium closed quickly,

the game was still in the 9th,

yet it was ball four for me.

Take a walk, I heard

had one too many, I heard.

Her light was still on,

watching the game on

the tele. First out, two to go.

Her husband pulled into

the driveway.

Hidden swish in the right

breast pocket, warm

enough to forget the cold

concrete.

Second out.

Home in time,

for a cold one.

Take a walk, I remembered,

the punishment I surrendered.

Radio signaled it in, out three.

Wake, wake

to the scent of flavor

baking and french toast

on a platter of butter

and Sunday mornings.

Wake, wake

to sleepy kisses and

bed ridden movies

replayed on network

television followed

by mid day naps.

Wake, wake

to her face every

time, her slight

breathing soothes you

back into her embrace,

not wanting to sleep;

not wanting for her to wake,

to stay this precious.

Wake, wake

to her smile every day,

the only way to spend

everyday.

The doors closed, both parties

were inside. The alcohol

in his flask grew warm.

He was there when they

arrived. Tux’s and dresses

all the same secondary.

They looked happy.

The street grew quiet,

he couldn’t stop staring

at the bells above,

hoping

hoping they won’t ring.

Hoping the doors would

burst open.

The white gown flowing,

in your trails,

sour cries from inside hushed

from the past left in her wake.

Alone, wanting, the dream he

wished for, masked the

sound the clanging bells.