Killjoy Road

Sort of an anti-sonnet.

The moon was full in black and cloudless sky

Blotted by black smog

The air was sweet and blew between the rye

And smelled like dead dog

I walked from place to place ‘cross fertile soil

Burnt and salted

Passed the happy ploughman and his toil

Starved, he’s halted

Waterfowl, dove, and blackbird took to flight

They’ve disease

While owls and bats and foxes take the night

Full of fleas

I see my neighbour’s house right down the lane

He died

He lives with wife and daughter farming grain

They cried

I walked past the nest of rabbits ‘neath my stoop

Dead

Beyond I see some chipmunks in a group

Dead

It seems to me I’ll never sleep tonight

For nightmares fill my dreams with fear and blight

Reviews

[Melanie Jane Boicourt S..]

This one was a little more wordy than I am used to reading from you but I loved the upbeat attitude of the piece.