man, with tired eyes
green army backpack
slouched walked
steps off a plane
breathes in
so tired
fresh air is nice
takes a bus downtown
where to stay tonight?
vagrant, vagabond
no place to stay tonight
wandering soul
so restless
where to place his head?
got a few dollars to his name
neon lights beckon him
a good drink
to help a good boy
like him
walk in, sit down
bartender slides him a drink
tiny woman
kind eyes
asks him where he's staying tonight
sad smile
charming smile
tells her wherever the wind blows
she rolls her eyes
then stops and looks him
up and down
shiver
he doesn't like the way she looks
at him
he's been looked at
like that so many times
before
she lowers her voice
hands him a cigarette
tries to sound silky
but feels like sandpaper
"but it's been a while"
he says, chuckling
"how long?"
"few months"
"it's been years for me"
she replies
he nods, okay
why not?
selling himself
he's done it before
"stay as long as you like
as long as you stay with me"
he nods, okay
later on
lying there
why.aren't.you.her.
cast a spell
be her
please
hands him a blunt
breathe in
hands him a needle
shoot up
cigarettes and coffee
hypnosis
snortanortsnort
breathe in
relief?
no
where am I?
lost in translation
who am I?
I don't know
goodbye, friend
thanks for letting him stay
man, with tired eyes
stands on a mountain
breathe in
better?
no
man, with tired eyes
stands on a bridge
jumps
breathe out
YOU ARE READING
BURN (Wattys2015?)
Poetry"Poetry...is thoughts that breathe and words that burn."--Thomas Gray "Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash." --Leonard Cohen Poems on the tough stuff in life. Poems on the crazy good stuff in li...
