Dark and Stormy

Eye teeth missing from

a brown smile

shoulders, bones

like birds.

You sailed this sea before, and

it crushed you.

Tonight you hear singing

and want to join them

as you watch the refrigerator tech work

all focus, bustle and

know-how.

I'd hire you,

that's for

goddamn sure,

if I had a pot to piss in.

The heat is coming to press us down

close to flat

to see what we're made of

In the morning

I'll talk about rights

and how we are

privileged to take them away

from less privileged people,

responsibly, 

and with a 

properly credentialed

legal signature

Call it power

stretching it's wings,

or call it crime,

or call it health care.

Aren't you the guy

blackening your own eyes

in the all night theater,

still

The 4:30 owl

is back again,

resident for some years now,

do you know me?

Your voice is startling,

clear and mournful,

and so very strange,

when heard out of context

And what is your context,

here before dawn,

feathered neighbor

lamps for eyes?

Waiting for the break of day

to knock off work

To knock off

as the day breaks

while a soft voice

speaks low to someone,

but it isn't

me