Crossroads

Dirty washroom
crumpled money
sweaty in pocket
city noise outside
rusted lock clicks
terrible silence
descends
Face the mirror again
reflection cracked
jagged
reach out and touch
smooth glass
it lies
Gut twist
a feeling so dark
unknown, unuttered
to make the lie
end
Reach, pull
metal heavy in my hand
warm from worn jeans
Point the dark tunnel
at the ruin
of a man who is not a man
never was
servile animal
vessel of filth
Make it pay
make it tell the truth
squeeze and the glass
the room
the world
explodes
Shower of glass
sharp pins in flesh
traitor eye opens to see
tiny avenging hole
in cold gray concrete
as dead inside
as me
Brush away debris
it shines like diamonds
wipe away little rivulets
of scarlet hope
but leave the dirt
it just comes back
The night waits
city maw opened wide
but never wide enough
Rusted lock clicks
breathe, and go

~ ~ ~

© W.R.R. 12/24/2000