Rays in the Dark

Last Night's Standards

How did you let it come this far?

Your clothes are littered on the floor

of that college dorm room

and you have no idea

what you did there

for the last twenty-four hours.

Time couldn't have just slipped,

right out of your fingers

like shower water.

You need a shower.

Your hair is tangled and greasy,

strips of bacon strung together

for a breakfast you won't eat.

But he doesn't know that

as he gives you a small kiss

before swinging his feet to the floor.

He leads you out of the room.

Beads tickle your skin

as you stand,

stripped naked,

beneath them.

How could he know who you are

and still love you?

She warned you of the evil

the men in this town possess.

Won't he snap?

Won't he end this?

He has to understand.

You have been manipulated.

You have been poisoned

by all the plastic people surrounding you

to destroy every-thing you touch.

Hasn't he heard their whispers?

You hear them loud and clear.

'He is not the one for you.'

'You need to be better.'

'Let him take advantage of you,

just not like that.'

Which words do you listen to?

Which ones do you ignore?

Maybe you should run.

Maybe he really is a living, breathing devil

but he looks so good.

He tastes so good,

kisses like Twizzlers

and a tongue like maple syrup

over the waffles your daddy whipped up for you

every Christmas morning.

The warning signs are there,

but he is holding matches.

He is coming closer,

pulling you in.

How can you run

when your soul is on fire?