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Monday, June 22, 2015

New Poem - Wine

Hey.

Here's a look at a new poem.  Patreon donors got to see it first.  For a chance to see daily, curated content that I make, and to be a part of an artistic, delightful community, click here to become a patron today!  You can do for as little as buck a month.  Ten bucks a month or more gets you a personalized monthly poem like this one!

WINE
 It was....twelve? 
Fourteen years ago? 
The past is microfiched, stretched into 
Quick, rolling sheets. 
First day of a new year. 
Circuit knocked out power in the boiler room. 
Lowest level of the ship. 
Elevator to breaker, just two hundred feet. 
Pitch with limpid decay. 
Flashlight, a useless prop. Crawling on my knees, 
And as I felt for the railing, heard the vessel gently moan as she rose and fell, 
I was stabbed. 
With no noise, I screamed. 
And, though this was a tomb of rust
and make-believe, though I had led thousands of strangers
to this altar of fear 
and cackled inwardly as they cried, 
For that moment, I was horribly, tenderly alone. Only I could flip the switch, 
A thimble of blood lapped out of my thumb, 
cast a shadow on the predator, 
Wine. Two glasses. Party guests from the night prior 
Went exploring without a map. As the old year sought its requiem, 
these two strangers spent the evening 
between the sprawling husks of rusted, slightly leaking plates. 
And now, no more. 
Hand throbbing, I pressed 
towards the bow. Foot by precarious foot, 
Testing the darkness. I had counted these steps, 
once,
fifty-four. Sighted, I'd been known to race them
and terrify a crowd in under six seconds. 
Not here. An hour lapsed 
until I finally stood up 
opened the box 
flipped the switch 
and roused the beast awake. 
I smiled, sadly. My hands reeked of dried 
merlot and iron. Another year 
with the same old ghosts.