all nighter

A Poem by rox

the tinny sound of a scream filters as music
through my weary hearing
the gurgle of nighttime pouring down the drain
core the bone from the slain beast. eyes open
the light is lying again on my bloodless skin
frightened mind, feckless on a long flight.
stumbling through a warm lightless corridor
comfort suffocating the skittish flame
dead candle exhaling fragrant smoke
head of the gaping fish boiled into stock
oil carries the smell far; sweet in death
envying the palatability of its flesh, i turn
again in my rest. i feel realness intruding.
i whisper to myself, air piled like dirt six inches
above my head somewhere, rain falls rudely
soft damp skin of the neck. a worm nuzzles.
eyes open, taking fistfuls of sedative thought
the order comes from the other side of the river
wake up! this mortal court wakes my dead self,
it will be over soon. this promise makes me forget
i have been awake for a long time.