nope
wasnt the three oclock in the morning
telephone call that woke him
although it was
shortly after three when he did
a dream badgering him
in
a loop
spoken
visualised hand?written named fonts
DEATH is
the END
awake now
laid in bed eyes closed
slowly the words sifted out of his eyes
however remained branded on his brain
felt like he was being picked on
he eventually fell back to sleep
DEATH
is the END
Hey bub. Whardya go?
it
leaned against a rough wood lamppost on an deserted city street corner lit in a
cone of amber light
Ya ready?
toying with him
ready or not didnt matter
it began again
written interspersed with audio voices
he did not recognise
it did not relent
leftie jumpedup on the bed as was
her routine
rousing him he defied the austere
hypnopompic throb
opened his eyes pet her
swept it away
except for the brand on
his brain
he made his bed performed his toiletry
fed cats insideanout washed their dishes made coffee dry multigrain toast
picked up The Rigor of Angels a pen a clipboard went out onto the back porch to
read muse
the brand continued interrupting
he couldnt quit thinking
about it
early that afternoon his
brother-in-law called invited him over to bullshithave a beer shoot some pool
he thought maybe that would get
his mind off it
living in a rural community he
took the long waythe backroads the dirt an graveled roads running between wire fences
woodposts barbwire hayfields pastures grazing cows sheep horses
pastoral quiet
he kept his speed down
The END
END
An acronym
thought he heard someonesomething
clear their throat
Why not he said over that
and as quickly Eternal Night’s Dream
wondered if now
it would cease
desist
rapped on his brothers door
IT’S UNLOCKED. COME IN.
inside he found
him in the kitchen prepping vegetables for beef stew
Thought you might stay for dinner.
Thas
a fine idea I might
Wanna hear
something queer
Most things out of your mouth are
queer. nodded Sure.
he related the dream
its looping assault
Death? Really?
Ya couldn’t have shared a
hot sex dream with me?
I don kiss an tell
humoured
himself he laughed he felt better
Look at you smilin’.
Needed to get it off your chest.
Think that’ll do it?
Well see
Care for an edible?
Don mind if I do
Sunday, 18 8. 24
1217, Thursday,
22 8. 24