someone unknown whispers of
escape from this sweet place
this romantic landscape
clouded by a million gathering crows
elsewhere a switchblade
touches tender flesh
selected poems read in darkness
on a stage with but one dim light
for love for money for the shear joy of words
what I don't hear you overhear
on your way to my past
matching me move for move
excepting retreat
nobody cuts
through this
humanely elegant lady
everybody simply
saves themselves
[everybody]
voices from those who were
exonerate exempt excuse
no one
there is so much
history to collect
you can smell it
everywhere
[are you ready for this?]
like crematorium smoke
there is so much
history to create
exquisite moment by excruciating moment
voices from those who were
in a hall full of hushed whispers
repeating sermons in latin
[greek to me]
I lay back in the cheap seats
not worried about any of it
sweetness
persons unknown
reconnoiter the past like dead friends
in crumpled faded photos
now decayed beyond recognition
grasping for the brass ring
pernicious bastards
eager to eat their own
regardless of the consequences
sanctimonious suckers
on a mission from god all mighty
nattering about the neon flesh yard
as if somehow immune to this soft sensuous seduction
carnal cannibals
resplendent in the rapture
innocence blown all to hell
evil motherfuckers
sweet church lady
all dressed up in their sunday best
nothing to lose but their sins
devoted beyond all reason
whipped up to a mouth foaming fury
hungry for absolution at your expense
I lay back in the cheap seats
solid citizen like
peering through the pews at you
elusive as a politician's promise
rabid for a small piece of the action
singing hymns like all bejeezuz
tell me sweet thing
how in the name of all thatís holy did we end up here?
eventually everyone does
[so you say]
eventually everyone does
[repeated like a mantra]
persons unknown
escape the neon
night flying like lucky fucking lindbergh
to safety
someone unknown
eventually ends up somewhere else
giggling like a junkie scoring
grandiose hits of motherload shit
after the rehearsal
flesh skin body games in the dark
then retreat to
exhausted sleep
retreat to
the safety of what is known
however the hell you do it
eventually everyone does
[repeated like a prayer on sunday]
eventually everyone does
[hollow as a movie star kiss]
eventually everyone does
[and who are we to fight kismet]
repeated ad nauseum ad infinitum ad hoc
stuttering in the dark like know nothing lowlives
approaching the edge
longing for final release
