you, me, everyone

the same lines mumbled,

skin thin, lips thinner with a smirk:

identification please!

identification acknowledged,

the “right” script gets played.

thump, thump, thump

the giant smashes down the walls

of the heart – springs out like a mountain lion

into a city of fresh meat.

delight, pleasure,

though what is actually seen was something a lot less

alarming, just another working man in suits and tie

on his way to work.

unseen, the plans already hatching

hatched jumps out the living monsters

into the sumptuous preys.

ouch, what drives?

another working man bored out of his mind

quite productive, quite absent, quite void of the pressing

calls, wants of a long, long line waiting to be serviced

and he cannot escape this,

so the smiles remain as a protection, instinctual almost

when frowns almost causes a halt, a stop, hesitancy means

not closing the sale.

jersey jeans, plain t-shirt and a woman dabs some mascara

quickly – too little time, impress, be empowered, be confident

as she takes the time to rehearse mentally again

the closing argument while the kids at home are screaming

for attention, for food, for more, for an expensive vacation

even though the treasury is dried up, the bills are late on payment,

she tries to smile through it all. toughen up.

an almost identical scene takes place 2 doors down,

a leader of charities, a giver, a protector

and she carried her dagger behind her back,

she whips out the flashing blinding lights

when the curtains are closed, take comfort she sneers

before devouring bits and pieces of sumptuous meal.

always on top, always at the fore front,

some go faster, some slower,

the rhythm is unmistakable, the frequency is high pitched, the shadows

have broken free from the person,

they chase the demons away, demons who feed, demons who cry

not enough — shadows return stronger to their dwellings,

and a man smiles in the dark.

the rhythm is familiar, the frequency is soft, the breath is shallow

for the man carrying the sky, ah this is too heavy,

lies down, crosses his arms, can’t do more

and yet the worries run up, up, up up to the sky – he must carry.

a spirit wanders about, where am i?

forces a step towards the mirror, no, no, no

not again.

when memories of another life is plain as day,

marred not by the river lethe. i cannot forget

with headaches, spells of dizziness, awareness is keen

scrubs the bones: chilling, cold, burning

for change never came about, a denial of truth

it can’t be. it can.

then man, woman they woke up with cold sweats,

the moon has hung low –

dropped like a ball into their chest.

soft, cuddly yellow ball

growing, elongating, looming

eyes of a hell fiend

tearing the fabric of reality –

you asked,

i deliveredd.

you screamed for attention,

i gave.

you worshipped me your entirely life,

here i am.