~
Stupid **** cat
Attempting sleep on the balcony, a railing at my back,
twisted iron creating stripes on my skin
Crisscrossing as I slide across a Craigslist mattress
or not, still my body moves
slightly used
The cool night air shifts direction
west becomes east (ah east) on a northerly flow
Dry leaves gather at my feet, dead but still with some color left
extending beyond the shadows now painting me with patterns
security lighting
Small slits where my eye lids blink find the neighbor’s cat
now chooses my chest to sharpen its claws
A quick swat sends him flying,
taking small pieces of my skin as a trophy
starting from scratch
New scars eventually seek old scars,
I can feel them reaching, (blood trickles on wrinkled sheets)
digging through my skin, exploring the muscle,
the tissue, finding the damage done to my heart
sliced open
Tunnels carved into my body, wormholes to a different dimension
Time passes beyond the depths of my being, flooding streets
and low water crossings with the pain (excruciating), echoes holler,
holding the volume to a dull roar
strange sounds
A siren in the distance startles me, breath leaves me as I sit up
reaching for my chest, nothing is there
Alongside me you sleep, peacefully
I touch your skin , a smile finds your face
so very beautiful
And I thank my lucky stars for sleep (finally), this dream,
the comfort, the softness in visions pure of love,
as reality is left outside, two stories up
on a balcony with a twisted iron railing...
stupid **** cat