“To the Victor!”

A deep and shallow breath

Crept low across the land

The graves whispered

The trees, they moaned

A strained and pitiful sound arose

From the recesses of my throat

Listen to the wind

Ignore the voices it carries

An abattoir of emotion

A tabernacle of love

Lies tattered in pieces

Scattered at your feet

A decaying of flies

Just a spider’s spoiled dinner

—David Allen

Happy Halloween!!

“Coming of Age: A Story of Abuse”

Late into the night

Just after the fight

Your head all bruised and bloody

You fix yourself upright

You’ll be coming home

To see that face that mother makes

When you muddy up her precious rug

Another unforgiven mistake

She lashes out at you

With a barbed and forked tongue

From far across the room

And you’ll know that you’re alone

And every little death

Reminds you of the next

And the rest is yet to come

Trombones playing

Your head is full and swaying

Bloated from the feast

The view of the street

From high up in the night sky

The moon, your only friend

Smiles down at you

A cherub’s crooked grin

Bringing tears to your eye

A deep foreboding sigh

And the stars begin to cry

—David Allen