I Think That Bitch Gave Me Herpes

Blood pools on my lips
tasting of lead and stone
I notice only peripherally
almost like remembering the smell of the ocean:
illusive, faint, ghost-like
but still it haunts me
inescapable.
Despite my inability
to focus on the taste
the blood covers everything
seeping over the sands with red
staining all within recall.

Flashlight Glasses

When I was sixteen
I directed the beam of light from a spotlight
pointing
to where audience attention was needed.
A variety of filters
affixed prior to the origin of the beam
allowed me to change its color --
red, blue, green.

Now I am not sixteen
the only spotlight I direct are my eyes
pointing
to what demands attention.
Only one color of filter,
bonded to the glass panes nailed to my head
force a singular vision:
death, death, death.

Falling

Towel falls to floor
next to the cat box
after I enter the bathroom.
It should be picked up
folded
draped, even
to hang once again
from the door from which it fell.
I decide against this plan
mostly
because I'm having a hard time
seeing why I should bother.

Red Shoes

Keep twistin' sidelong: peripheral,
Frail shadows into people
that I don't think I know.
Keep seeing the girl's face
short gate framed in red shoes -
but those got thrown away with the flowers.
She's got grey ones now
that have blue stripes.
Peripheral, frail shadows fail
to manifest as a girl with blue shoes
but I keep catching
red shoes
out of the corner of my eye.

Another Godamn Corpse

Yeah well that bitch is dead now
grey and gone a year now past her man
let's make some secrets first, though -
I think she found another.

Guess he wouldn't care now
'cause hey man, best friends are good for it
even ones that died in waiting rooms
because emergencies aren't always apparent.

Now I guess I get to see dad cry again
mom too, but she always does
for them I'll go and breathe the gas
saddest motherfucker in the room.