Into the Sunset

He walked the narrow beam

of conciliatory conversation,

unspoken words puddling

in dark patches under his eyes,

leaking black bile ribbons down

the constricted veins of a

bitter, screaming throat, hell bent

to swallow and swap out truth

for another inch of pride.

He hid his practiced fear behind

searing fits of anger, thrown

against brick and mortared walls,

lightening scorched instruction

branded into his stubborn brow.

Filament layers of clay settled tight

in the middle of his chest, ready

for a fire to set another layer

around his brittle, beaten heart,

at the prearranged, acceptable

price, of one less chance at love.