preamble [2009]

end of a trumpet, and drums
finished the leaning burden, burn
take time with rusted strings before
the phone is her, is quiet her
limped through low light, to her, to
  arrive as if not 
and the dogs not
and the candles not
not only taken to
sag, scribble the sigil, snore  
tip to dreams of pornography, as
she shivers under cracked casement
and fears

that first familiar rooster
what he hears, then
stumble to drain this morrow
of its duties, its deviations
feel to find that fat fever
amongst friends, and an enemy
  (some are dressed as ladies
and some sneak the back seat with them
and some sneak death upon
their naive significants)
waitresses and attorneys are seen
those not yet gone are there
some are dressed as men, too
and ghosts

and after hours, we review recordings
like those done in the '80s
tricks traced in costume
and smiles seen at a distance
hers being singular, striking so
but
soon a languid tickle will become more
and a strange sickness will slip me
into a tempestuous slumber, and

                      I'll be amber when