Desperados
Your cigarette ash falls slowly, tumbling
in the cloudy remnants of your drink
grey sand sinking into a watery sea of gin
some collecting on the last of the ice
Traces of the night before linger everywhere
empty bottles clumsily stacked at the door
crumpled sheets and discarded shoes
dusty residues of a mystery white insufflant
Even in the grogginess of mid morning haze
the pulsing excitement of the chase remains
the steely tang of fresh blood in the mouth
careless injury sustained in our desperate flight
When they inevitably ask ‘was it worth it?’
the suited squares and badged enforcers
men and women I once considered fellows
I’ll smile and nod my head, remembering this
The thrill of our hasty exodus, blood pumping
the smell of gasoline and burned rubber on tar
engine heat radiating against a crimson sunset
straight roads and starlight desert-scapes
But most vivid of all is our passionate aftermath
sweat and dust no counter to our embrace
the taste of victory on your sun-chapped lips
lusting infatuation and sweet liquor on mine
The smile will fade though, when I brood over
the flying heat, the hellish rain of blazing lead
as your life by the sword comes full circle
the shattered glass, spilt remnants of your drink
Lying here on cold steel altar of ill gotten gains
no tears from the people for a dashing desperado
slicked back hair and morning’s manly shadow
white sheet shroud and harsh photographer’s flash
Rest easy in that goodnight sweet roguish hero
alone now I must beat the frantic swift retreat
in memory I will graze new burning skid-marks
And flee alone, in to ever changing sunsets
LVX CREARE 