shadows in the dark

i've ridden the snake as far as i can

the ace of spades

falls from the dead man's hand.

his casket is nailed shut

and dirt is thrown upon it.

a snake bites my foot

as i stand in the yard

feeling the warm summer air

of a sultry July night.

i go home to a burned out lamp

and a flickering television.

three pieces of ice are counted out,

whatever mood i'm in

fills the glass.

the old man peers at me

over his cup of herbal tea.

and what do you think that means?

he quizzes me,

like i'm the one who went to school

for a decade.

the lady with no eyes

stares at me across a table.

orders are barked to lowlifes

outside the office windows.

here's a letter,

we'll be taking what can't be replaced

in payment.

bags of garbage piled outside my door,

bathroom floors swept clean,

midnight conversations with troubled souls,

shedding blood from childish pranks,

the penetration of teeth through my tongue

for holding silent too long.

no one can pity you.

you broke your shoulders

to free yourself from shackles

even though the key was in your palm.

they call you fool,

and the children will beat you with sticks,

but you will rise up

because you think you have something to prove.

it's only when the lights go up

that you realize no one's been paying attention.