A Man About To

I was surprised by the length of your scream;

the incredible volume that

shattered glass and made hills shudder

 

And monsters, malformed and unfriendly

Came tearing through ribcages

mandibles burning

from the bristly loneliness that

enveloped your cold room

came bony knuckled scratching

on the hard wood floor

Seeking bronze knobs to close up the door

 

Spite seeps from thwarted wills

Fear in the face of those shuddering hills

Sick cylinders

and resin-sticky dreams

 

But all that noise just fades probably quicker

than you thought

 

and you're left staring at eyeball reflections

in the back of your spectacle lenses

 

It is unknown when circumstances will dictate

you fall and bleed

skinned-knees ugly

picking out gravel while the flesh unravels

 

Cry like a kid I've lost my grip of the monkey bars

And my fake cigarette still clasped in lips

I whine around it

trying to drown it

in steam shouts and anger