surrounded by space
in a soundtrackless cinéma vérité;
long stares out of the window,
cigarettes after sex;
finally, she whispers, 'do you love only me?'
the question remains unanswered
while seasons fade.
the walls start closing in,
echoing the decade of quietude;
the busy streets outside remain,
stiff gins after six;
finally, she sighs, 'do you still love me?'
and while seasons fade,
the question remains.
Fear, the ghost of indecision
where darkness stalks each day
Confusion our ignoble master,
bewildered we fall prey
Terror caught in nightly doldrums,
the walls start closing in
As choices wait our will to answer
—or die this fate within
(Villanova Pennsylvania: July, 2020)
He Rides
When he gets lonely he rides,
all through town,
up and down
the small town streets and neighborhoods.
He lives alone,
his wife is gone,
the days are long,
so he rides.
He returns home to rest a while.
The walls start closing in,
he knows nothing else to do,
so he rides again
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