Book of J

Almost a fable where dogs are enabled

to speak like boys

Almost a reptile, splayed in the sunshine,

missing it's tail

Almost a landmark covered in spraypaint,

thumbtacks and nails

Almost a red star, a polaroid flash

a gleam in her eye

It's best not to mock her, sobbing and coughing,

slumped on the stairs

Spiraling through the same ugly building

all of us shared

Goddamn the stench,

the smell of the garbage bags tossed in the hall

Witnesses gathering, too scared,

Jehovah waits out on the lawn

He's standing outside near basketball nets made of chain

Baring his teeth before children

who wait to play a quick game

I'll beg a little

(let's just stay here a while)

just enough to take your mind

(won't you please come inside?)

off of the trouble

(I'm afraid of the dark)

I'll fix the clocks when we get back the lights

(so quiet tonight)

Just one thing at a time

You're not so heavy or tortured

or comfortable or totally distinct

Almost a red star, a polaroid flash

a gleam in her eye

It's best not to mock her, sobbing and coughing,

slumped on the stairs

Spiraling through the same ugly building

all of us shared