my summer

stay out of the sun

the yellow monster

chases me with shark teeth

and egyptian eyes.

we are trapped in

a maze of neon blue

surrounded by the ghosts

of past mistakes

come to haunt.

no matter how high we climb

wild flames nip at our heels.

the monster rises abve me

and bellows as he hurls down

obstalces to keep me

from the pinnacle.

the man with stars and stripes

struggling to choke out his life

calls me pathetic.

he lords numbers over me

forever beyond reach

by all but my dreams.

the brothers duel underground

their gloved hands

upon the other's throat

until the life goes out of one,

and the dance begins anew.

dusty gray capsules

call out to me from a shoebox

burried in the closet.

"take up the whip once more,"

the voices beg me.

oh, what a terrible night

to have a curse.