Death Of A Poet {A Short Story Poem}

Adam's life changes drastically after robbing the wrong person.

Adam was a common thief just not of little stuff,
his specialty (surprise!)? He'd use a gun and stick you up,
he'd jab you in the back and growl real low like "give it up!",
then snicker like a doodle in the midst and get your stuff.

For years the guy's been at it so the act is like a breath,
it's sure to him; as surely as the fact that life is death,
the one thing Adam never figured is that he'd get caught,
but there are things far worse and he would see what's in the dark.

So on this destined eve'ning; Adam walks around Downtown,
in search of his next victim for the good ol' ground and pound,
it seemingly is slow and Adam's 'bout to call it quits,
until he gets the clap as in he hears applause and s**t,

that echos from a cafe aptly called The Poets' Lounge,
he looks into the window and he sees it's goin' down,
some guy is on the stage and he's laced up in shiny jewels,
and just like that he's made himself a victim; shiny fool.

So Adam waited patiently outside the small cafe,
he took a tired seat on brownstone steps across the way,
a couple hours passed before the patrons filed away,
and scattered just like roaches when a bright light shines their way.

The shiny guy must be the owner; he's the last to leave,
he locks the door and drops the gate; besides he has the keys,
he walks toward the cabstand which is three long blocks away,
the guy must think he's safe out here, but oh no not today,

cause Adam falls in step behind him, now to make a move,
"Excuse me sir, I think your poet cafe's very cool."
The comment makes him start to turn around and see what's up,
but as he does ol' Adam shoves the pistol in his gut.

"Take off all the jewelry 'fore this block's a murder scene!",
The dude then chuckles softly like "You're gonna murder ME?!"
The two men tussle for the empty street annoints them room,
the shiny cat falls down then Adam points at him and BOOM!

The front of Shiny's white shirt now's a spreading burgundy,
he looks up disbelievingly like "You just murdered me!",
more blood comes on his shirt like an incision missed its line,
he says to Adam loudly, "You're a victim of the rhyme!"

The dude then coughs a single time before he turns deceased,
and Adam exhales ragged like he just had learned to breathe,
as sirens break the reverie of early morning dawn,
the jewels get snatched as Adam's in the early morning....gone!

THIS JUST IN:
William Page A.K.A. Big Willie, owner and operator of Downtown's popular nightspot 'The Poet's Lounge', was shot and killed early this morning a block and a half away from the lounge. Big Willie, famous around town for his gaudy jewelry and loud personality, was a suspected voodoo priest and was found by police at 3:16AM after answering reports of shots fired. Willie was not wearing any jewelry when found and police speculate that robbery was the likely motive. He is survived by his mother Ivy Page who is also suspected in unlawful voodoo practices as well as being a high ranking priestess in New Orleans. Anyone with any information on this crime is encouraged to contact police at 1-800-GON-TELL....

Damn!

Adam turns the TV off and feels quite foolish see,
of all the folks to stick-up HE would pick a voodoo priest,
and what was that the guy said to him 'bout a "victim's rhyme"?
If Adam wasn't smart he knew he'd see some prison time.

The jewels lay scattered on his bed; they're higher end no doubt,
the stones are diff'rent colors but they're dia-monds no doubt,
he'd move 'em through his fence in Newark and just may take a loss,
a sudden headache knocks him senseless; time to pay the cost.

The pain is sharp like razor blades and turns his vision white,
his nose procures a funny smell like paint that didn't dry,
his sight begins to clear and hold together in a place,
he's never been and sees a chick in leather straps and lace.

As Adam tries to move he feels the cuffs around his wrists,
and ankles biting sharp he then asks loudly "WHAT IS THIS?!"
The woman looks him in the eye while Adam cried her name,
with hopelessness inside his voice he whispers "Ivy Page...."

Her laugh is like a cackle sending chills down Adam's spine,
she answers to him "Right mi bwoy; the life you have is mine.
You took mi only son from me and now it's time to pay,
a life is for a life; mi tink dat be kind of ok..."

Adam was afraid but then he marvelled plenty at,
the woman's youthful image; she looked late 20s if that,
but what came from behind her made him willfully insane,
for looking very much alive was yup, Big Willie Page.

The dungeon's air seemed hotter as Big Will approached the man,
who just some hours prior took his life and gave no chance,
again Ms. Ivy cackled as her son then killed some time,
by chanting then he yelled to Adam "VICTIM OF THE RHYME!!!"

Adam felt his his own esophagus begin to itch,
his arms and legs then tingled while his eyes began to twitch,
Big Will then put his mouth to Adam's; not to give a kiss,
but breathe into his essence; Adam spat a little spit,

when Will was done; Ms. Ivy then pulled out a little doll,
that looked of Adam's likeness; it was just a little small,
then mom and son together chanted some old voodoo mess,
they both then looked as Adam filled his pants with doo-doo ness.

"Dark forces," Willie started, "Let this heathen suffer good,
a petty thief he is; his soul is black and nothin' good,
will come forth while he's livin' but don't kill him 'til it's time,
we want to make him suffer as a victim of the rhyme!"

Ms. Ivy then said "Let the punishin' start right this sec,
she then spoke to the doll that she was holding "Tighten neck,"
as Adam started wheezing Willie went and grabbed the doll,
from out his mother's hand while clearly saying "Smash the balls!"

The crunch was loudly audible and so was Adam's scream,
Big Will and Ivy alternated turns like tagging teams,
in wrest'ling 'cept there wasn't any jumpin' off the rope,
the torture-fest was arduous and jumped off nice and slow.

"Right knee!" Willie hollered out; "His left leg!" Ivy sang,
"The left ankle" Will followed up while Adam cried in pain,
"Both kneecaps," Willie yelled excited; "Shoulders!" Ivy crowed,
Will then said "Now let's get the penis; Adam screamed out "NOOOOOOOO...."

THIS JUST IN:
A headless, armless and legless torso was found floating in the lake of Weequahic Park early this morning by two joggers. The torso is that of a castrated male which police on the scene confirmed. It was also stated that I.D.ing this victim will be a most daunting task with lack of fingerprints and DNA. Anyone with any information on this crime is encouraged to contact police at 1-800-GON-TELL.....

©2014
The Cunning Linguist

Author's Note

I was watching the news one morning and a story came on about a headless torso found in the lake not far from where I lived at the time. It got my creative juices flowing and this piece was the direct result.